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Emelyanova A, Blix BH, Larsson A, Olafsdottir SA, Rautio A. Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2339561. [PMID: 38615335 PMCID: PMC11017993 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2339561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, policy strategies were adopted in response to population ageing in the Nordic countries. Governmental actions have to be evaluated in terms of their efficacy. The objective of this article is to identify and review the policies related to age-inclusive outdoor spaces in the Arctic regions of Nordic countries. Our analysis focuses on central government white papers that address the older adults in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. A review of such policy documents provides insights into the predominant understandings of older adults and healthy ageing. Moreover, such analysis may identify "blind spots" in the national policies, especially regarding the sparsely researched northernmost and rural Arctic territories. Our results demonstrate how the older populations in the Nordic Arctic and their access to outdoor spaces are addressed in the policy documents. We found that with few exceptions, the older people of the rural Arctic is strikingly absent in the Nordic national governmental papers. Moreover, access to outdoor spaces is mentioned in general terms, and specific challenges of the rural Arctic context, such as the harsh climate, long winters and geographical distances are not addressed. The noticed omissions might be the result of "urban-rural", "south-north", "indoor-outdoor", and "generalisation" biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Emelyanova
- Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Bodil H. Blix
- Department of health and care sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Faculty of education, arts and sports, Western Norway University of Applied Science, Bergen, Norway
| | - Agneta Larsson
- Division of Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Steinunn A. Olafsdottir
- Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Arja Rautio
- Arctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Chester EM, Kolacz J, Ake CJ, Thornburg J, Chen X, Shea AA, Birgisdóttir BE, Gunnlaugsson G, Vitzthum VJ. Well-being in healthy Icelandic women varies with extreme seasonality in ambient light. Int J Psychol 2024; 59:486-494. [PMID: 38296809 DOI: 10.1002/ijop.13112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Seasonal variation in photoperiod may affect psychosocial and physical well-being in healthy persons. We tested this hypothesis in healthy pre-menopausal women, without a history of mood disorders, living year-round in Reykjavik, Iceland (64.1°N). Participants reported daily self-assessments of well-being throughout a complete ovulatory menstrual cycle in summer and/or winter (70% participated in both seasons). Scores for mood, cognitive acuity, social support, physical health and a composite of these four indicators were each significantly higher in summer than in winter (linear mixed effects models: p < .001 for each model); tiredness did not differ by season. The effect of season was not significantly changed by inclusion of body mass index and/or age as covariates. Some prior studies have been hampered by sparse time sampling, inattention to covariates and/or relying on recalled data. This is to our knowledge the first investigation to test the study hypothesis with daily real-time data spanning complete ovulatory menstrual cycles in each of two seasons. This dense sampling has revealed modest seasonal variation in well-being in healthy women. Daylength (sunlight exposure) is likely a major, but not necessarily sole, factor in these seasonal differences in well-being; temperature is likely less important given Iceland's relatively moderate (for its high latitude) seasonal temperature swings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacek Kolacz
- Traumatic Stress Research Consortium, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Psychiatry and Behaviorial Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Christine J Ake
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jonathan Thornburg
- Department of Astronomy and Center for Spacetime Symmetries, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Xiwei Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Amanda A Shea
- Department of Science, Biowink, GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Geir Gunnlaugsson
- Faculty of Sociology, Anthropology, and Folkloristics, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Virginia J Vitzthum
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
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Ellenberger Í, Vilhjálmsson Þ. "No Bare Bottoms": The Responsibilization of the Good Gay Citizen in Icelandic Media Discourses 1990-2010. J Homosex 2024; 71:1465-1486. [PMID: 36730845 DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2023.2174472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This article explores how gay men in Iceland were constructed as good responsible citizens through neoliberal discourses from 1990 to 2010. Drawing on interviews with gay men in Icelandic magazines, we focus on three discursive formations of responsibilization that reveal the technologies of agency at play in transforming the men into good, responsible gay citizens capable of self-management. The discursive formations focus on the good gay citizen who (a) has a positive mind-set, (b) transforms himself, and (c) displaces responsibility for personal harm. They reveal how gay men are constituted as neoliberal subjects through discursive practices linked to responsibility, happiness, and national progress. These practices enable a normalization process devoid of confrontation, anger, or blame where gay men are not only made responsible for their own lives but also the marginalization they experienced in the past.
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Di Y, Mefford J, Rahmani E, Wang J, Ravi V, Gorla A, Alwan A, Zhu T, Flint J. Genetic association analysis of human median voice pitch identifies a common locus for tonal and non-tonal languages. Commun Biol 2024; 7:540. [PMID: 38714798 PMCID: PMC11076565 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06198-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The genetic influence on human vocal pitch in tonal and non-tonal languages remains largely unknown. In tonal languages, such as Mandarin Chinese, pitch changes differentiate word meanings, whereas in non-tonal languages, such as Icelandic, pitch is used to convey intonation. We addressed this question by searching for genetic associations with interindividual variation in median pitch in a Chinese major depression case-control cohort and compared our results with a genome-wide association study from Iceland. The same genetic variant, rs11046212-T in an intron of the ABCC9 gene, was one of the most strongly associated loci with median pitch in both samples. Our meta-analysis revealed four genome-wide significant hits, including two novel associations. The discovery of genetic variants influencing vocal pitch across both tonal and non-tonal languages suggests the possibility of a common genetic contribution to the human vocal system shared in two distinct populations with languages that differ in tonality (Icelandic and Mandarin).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazheng Di
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Joel Mefford
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elior Rahmani
- Department of Computational Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jinhan Wang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Vijay Ravi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aditya Gorla
- Bioinformatics Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Abeer Alwan
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tingshao Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jonathan Flint
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Freudiger K, Verweij L, Naef R. Translation and Psychometric Validation of the German Version of the Iceland-Family Perceived Support Questionnaire (ICE-FPSQ): A Cross-Sectional Study. J Fam Nurs 2024; 30:114-126. [PMID: 38622871 DOI: 10.1177/10748407241234262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Supporting families experiencing critical illness through family interventions is essential to ease illness burden, enable family management, and reduce their risk for adverse health. Thus far, there is no validated German instrument to measure the perceived support families receive from nurses. We translated the 14-item Iceland-Family Perceived Support Questionnaire (ICE-FPSQ) and tested its psychometric properties with 77 family members of intensive care patients. Compared with the original instrument, the construct validity of the German ICE-FPSQ (FPSQ-G) showed unstable results with a partially divergent structure, most likely caused by the limited sample size. The first two principal components explained 61% of the overall variance and a good internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of .92. The FPSQ-G is a promising instrument to measure family members' perceptions of the support they received from nurses in the acute critical care setting but requires further validation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lotte Verweij
- University of Zurich, Switzerland
- University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rahel Naef
- University of Zurich, Switzerland
- University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
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Starnberg J, Renström L. Scoping review showed that obesity prevention in Nordic countries had limited effects on children from birth to 7 years of age. Acta Paediatr 2024; 113:912-922. [PMID: 37988200 DOI: 10.1111/apa.17043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this scoping review was to map and summarise clinical trials that attempted to prevent obesity in children from birth to 7 years of age in any of the Nordic countries. METHODS PubMed, CINAHL Plus and clinicaltrials.gov were searched for peer-reviewed papers and registered trials published in English or Swedish. The overall search period was from 1 January 2002 to 13 December 2022. We included randomised and non-randomised trials initiated from birth to 7 years of age that aimed to prevent obesity in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. RESULTS The search resulted in 414 papers and 14 were included. Despite having diverse settings and designs, none of them reported consistently favourable results for anthropometric outcomes, apart from beneficial trends in subgroups with a high body mass index at baseline. Most studies reported temporarily improved dietary patterns. CONCLUSION There is a gap in the current research about how to best prevent obesity in children. We suggest that researchers should focus on risk groups and that interventions that last a number of years are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Starnberg
- Centre for Research and Development, Region Gävleborg, Gävle, Sweden
- Centre for Clinical Research, Region Gävleborg and Uppsala University, Gävle, Sweden
| | - Lina Renström
- Centre for Research and Development, Region Gävleborg, Gävle, Sweden
- Centre for Clinical Research, Region Gävleborg and Uppsala University, Gävle, Sweden
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Svavarsdottir EK, Lemos S, Andrade L, Barbieri-Figueiredo MDC, Tryggvadottir GB, Lima L. Psychometric Testing of the Experience of Integrating Chronic Illness into Family Life Questionnaire. J Fam Nurs 2024; 30:174-184. [PMID: 38528681 DOI: 10.1177/10748407241236010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Family members' experience of integrating chronic illnesses or chronic conditions into family life is valuable information for health care professionals, such as nurses, to understand, improve, and adjust the care provided to families of chronically ill patients. Furthermore, the assessment of the experience of integrating chronic illness into family life can support family nursing interventions and reduce suffering. This study aimed to adapt and psychometrically test a new Likert-type questionnaire on the experience of integrating pediatric chronic illness into family life (EICI-FLQ) in two European samples. A sample of 164 primary caregivers of children/adolescents with chronic illnesses/conditions in Iceland and another sample of 237 primary caregivers with children/adolescents with chronic illnesses/conditions in Portugal completed the online questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis of the Icelandic sample yielded support for a one-factor solution with acceptable internal reliability (Cronbach's α = .866). Confirmatory factor analysis of the one-factor structure in the Portuguese sample indicated good model fit and similar internal reliability (Cronbach's α = .838). This instrument has good psychometric characteristics and is a promising tool for measuring the experience of integrating pediatric chronic illness into family life in clinical and research settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Lemos
- University of Porto Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Porto, Portugal
| | - Luísa Andrade
- Nursing School of Porto, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research at the Health, Research Network (CINTESIS@RISE), Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Do Céu Barbieri-Figueiredo
- University of Porto Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Porto, Portugal
- Nursing School of Porto, Portugal
- University of Huelva, Spain
| | | | - Lígia Lima
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research at the Health, Research Network (CINTESIS@RISE), Porto, Portugal
- Nursing School of Porto, Portugal
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Smit IH, Hernlund E, Persson-Sjodin E, Björnsdóttir S, Gunnarsdottir H, Gunnarsson V, Rhodin M, Serra Braganca FM. Adaptation strategies of the Icelandic horse with induced forelimb lameness at walk, trot and tölt. Equine Vet J 2024; 56:617-630. [PMID: 37674472 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Lameness assessment in the gaited Icelandic horse is complex. We aimed to describe their kinematic and temporal adaptation strategies in response to forelimb lameness at walk, trot and tölt. STUDY DESIGN In vivo experiment. METHODS Ten clinically non-lame Icelandic horses were measured before and after reversible forelimb lameness induction. Upper body and limb kinematics were measured using 11 inertial measurement units mounted on the poll, withers, pelvis (tubera sacrale) and all four limbs and hoofs (Equimoves®, 500 Hz). Horses were measured on a straight line at walk and trot in-hand and at walk, trot and tölt while ridden. Linear mixed models were used to compare baseline and lame conditions (random factor = 'horse'), and results are presented as the difference in estimated marginal means or percentage of change. RESULTS Lameness induction significantly (p < 0.05) increased head vertical movement asymmetry at walk (HDmin/HDmaxHAND: 18.8/5.7 mm, HDmin/HDmaxRIDDEN: 9.8/0.3 mm) and trot (HDmin/HDmaxHAND: 18.1/7.8 mm, HDmin/HDmaxRIDDEN: 24.0/9.3 mm). At the tölt, however, HDmin did not change significantly (1.1 mm), but HDmax increased by 11.2 mm (p < 0.05). Furthermore, pelvis vertical movement asymmetry (PDmax) increased by 4.9 mm, sound side dissociation decreased (-8.3%), and sound diagonal dissociation increased (6.5%). Other temporal stride variables were also affected, such as increased stance duration of both forelimbs at walk, tölt and in-hand trot. MAIN LIMITATIONS Only one degree of lameness (mild) was induced with an acute lameness model. CONCLUSIONS Classical forelimb lameness metrics, such as vertical head and withers movement asymmetry, were less valuable at tölt compared to walk and trot, except for HDmax. Therefore, it is advised to primarily use the walk and trot to detect and quantify forelimb lameness in the Icelandic horse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ineke H Smit
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elin Hernlund
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Emma Persson-Sjodin
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Marie Rhodin
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Filipe M Serra Braganca
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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9
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Thorarinsdottir K. [Allocation and diversity of grants]. LAEKNABLADID 2024; 110:243. [PMID: 38713557 DOI: 10.17992/lbl.2024.05.790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Thorarinsdottir
- MD, rheumatologist, PhD and department head of rheumatology at Landspitali University Hospital
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Matsubayashi M, Tsuchida S, Shibahara T, Ushida K, Fuglei E, Pedersen ÅØ, Nielsen ÓK, Duszynski DW, Skírnisson K. Comparative molecular analyses of Eimeria Schneider (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) species from rock ptarmigan in Iceland, Svalbard-Norway, and Japan. Syst Parasitol 2024; 101:31. [PMID: 38642205 DOI: 10.1007/s11230-024-10159-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
The rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) has a Holarctic breeding distribution and is found in arctic and sub-arctic regions. Isolated populations and glacial relicts occur in alpine areas south of the main range, like the Pyrenees in Europe, the Pamir mountains in Central Asia, and the Japanese Alps. In recent decades considerable effort has been made to clarify parasite infections in the rock ptarmigan. Seven Eimeria spp. have been reported parasitizing rock ptarmigan. Two of those species, E. uekii and E. raichoi parasitizing rock ptarmigan (L. m. japonica) in Japan, have been identified genetically. Here we compare partial sequences of nuclear (18S rRNA) and mitochondrial (COI) genes and we detail the morphology of sporulated oocysts of E. uekii and E. raichoi from Japan, E. muta and E. rjupa, from the rock ptarmigan (L. m. islandorum) in Iceland, and two undescribed eimerian morphotypes, Eimeria sp. A, and Eimeria sp. B, from rock ptarmigan (L. m. hyperborea) in Norway (Svalbard in the Norwegian Archipelago). Two morphotypes, ellipsoidal and spheroidal, are recognized for each of the three host subspecies. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that the ellipsoidal oocyst types, E. uekii, E. muta, and Eimeria sp. A (Svalbard-Norway) are identical and infects rock ptarmigan in Japan, Iceland, and Svalbard-Norway, respectively. Eimeria uekii was first described in Japan in 1981 so that E. muta, described in Iceland in 2007, and Eimeria sp. A in Svalbard-Norway are junior synonyms of E. uekii. Also, phylogenetic analysis shows that the spheroidal oocyst types, E. rjupa and Eimeria sp. B (Svalbard-Norway), are identical, indicating that rock ptarmigan in Iceland and Svalbard-Norway are infected by the same Eimeria species and differ from E. raichoi in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Matsubayashi
- Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-58 Rinku oraikita, Izumisano, Osaka, 598-8531, Japan.
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University, Surabaya, 60115, Indonesia.
| | - Sayaka Tsuchida
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University, 1200 Matsumoto-cho, Kasugai, Aichi, 487-8501, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Shibahara
- Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-58 Rinku oraikita, Izumisano, Osaka, 598-8531, Japan
- Kagoshima Research Station, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2702 Chuzan, Kagoshima, Kagoshima, 891-0105, Japan
| | - Kazunari Ushida
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chubu University, 1200 Matsumoto-cho, Kasugai, Aichi, 487-8501, Japan
| | - Eva Fuglei
- Fram Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, Hjalmar Johansens gate 14, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Åshild Ø Pedersen
- Fram Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, Hjalmar Johansens gate 14, 9296, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ólafur K Nielsen
- Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Urriðaholtsstræti 6-8, 210, Garðabær, Iceland
| | - Donald W Duszynski
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Karl Skírnisson
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute for Experimental Pathology, Keldur, University of Iceland, Keldnavegur 3, 112, Reykjavík, Iceland
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Roinesdottir S, Petursdottir S, Gudjonsdottir EM. [Where are the men? Increasing number of women in medicine at the University of Iceland]. LAEKNABLADID 2024; 110:187. [PMID: 38517404 DOI: 10.17992/lbl.2024.04.786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
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Chaly V, Popova OV. Narrativization of human population genetics: Two cases in Iceland and Russia. Public Underst Sci 2024; 33:370-386. [PMID: 37941348 DOI: 10.1177/09636625231203481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Using the two cases of the Icelandic Health Sector Database and Russian initiatives in biobanking, the article criticizes the view of narratives and imaginaries as a sufficient and unproblematic means of shaping public understanding of genetics and justifying population-wide projects. Narrative representations of national biobanking engage particular imaginaries that are not bound by the universal normative framework of human rights, promote affective thinking, distract the public from recognizing and discussing tangible ethical and socioeconomic issues, and harm trust in science and technology. In the Icelandic case, the presentation of the project in association with national imaginaries concealed its market identity and could lead to the commodification of biodata. In the Russian case, framing in terms of "genetic sovereignty" and "civilizational code" offers pretexts for state securitization. Adherence to normative framework of human rights and public discussion of genetics in an argumentative and factual mode can counter these trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Chaly
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian Federation
| | - Olga V Popova
- Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Russian Federation
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Tomasch J, Kopejtka K, Bílý T, Gardiner AT, Gardian Z, Shivaramu S, Koblížek M, Kaftan D. A photoheterotrophic bacterium from Iceland has adapted its photosynthetic machinery to the long days of polar summer. mSystems 2024; 9:e0131123. [PMID: 38376261 PMCID: PMC10949492 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01311-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
During their long evolution, anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria have inhabited a wide variety of natural habitats and developed specific strategies to cope with the challenges of any particular environment. Expression, assembly, and safe operation of the photosynthetic apparatus must be regulated to prevent reactive oxygen species generation under illumination in the presence of oxygen. Here, we report on the photoheterotrophic Sediminicoccus sp. strain KRV36, which was isolated from a cold stream in north-western Iceland, 30 km south of the Arctic Circle. In contrast to most aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs, which stop pigment synthesis when illuminated, strain KRV36 maintained its bacteriochlorophyll synthesis even under continuous light. Its cells also contained between 100 and 180 chromatophores, each accommodating photosynthetic complexes that exhibit an unusually large carotenoid absorption spectrum. The expression of photosynthesis genes in dark-adapted cells was transiently downregulated in the first 2 hours exposed to light but recovered to the initial level within 24 hours. An excess of membrane-bound carotenoids as well as high, constitutive expression of oxidative stress response genes provided the required potential for scavenging reactive oxygen species, safeguarding bacteriochlorophyll synthesis and photosystem assembly. The unique cellular architecture and an unusual gene expression pattern represent a specific adaptation that allows the maintenance of anoxygenic phototrophy under arctic conditions characterized by long summer days with relatively low irradiance.IMPORTANCEThe photoheterotrophic bacterium Sediminicoccus sp. KRV36 was isolated from a cold stream in Iceland. It expresses its photosynthesis genes, synthesizes bacteriochlorophyll, and assembles functional photosynthetic complexes under continuous light in the presence of oxygen. Unraveling the molecular basis of this ability, which is exceptional among aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic species, will help to understand the evolution of bacterial photosynthesis in response to changing environmental conditions. It might also open new possibilities for genetic engineering of biotechnologically relevant phototrophs, with the aim of increasing photosynthetic activity and their tolerance to reactive oxygen species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Tomasch
- Laboratory of Anoxygenic Phototrophs, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia
| | - Karel Kopejtka
- Laboratory of Anoxygenic Phototrophs, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia
| | - Tomáš Bílý
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Alastair T. Gardiner
- Laboratory of Anoxygenic Phototrophs, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia
| | - Zdenko Gardian
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Sahana Shivaramu
- Laboratory of Anoxygenic Phototrophs, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia
| | - Michal Koblížek
- Laboratory of Anoxygenic Phototrophs, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia
| | - David Kaftan
- Laboratory of Anoxygenic Phototrophs, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia
- Department Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
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14
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Bercovitch Sadinsky M. Actionable Genotypes and Life Span in Iceland. N Engl J Med 2024; 390:958. [PMID: 38446684 DOI: 10.1056/nejmc2314021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
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15
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Kennedy J, Ólafsdóttir AH, Aradóttir SE, Egilsdóttir S, Pampoulie C. Biological information on a rare pelagic fish, black ruff Centrolophus niger, caught in Icelandic waters: Distribution, feeding, and otoliths. J Fish Biol 2024; 104:598-610. [PMID: 37940609 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Black ruff (Centrolophus niger) is a rare and poorly studied species found in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and also in the Mediterranean Sea. It is sporadically caught south of Iceland during the annual International Ecosystem Summer Survey of the Nordic Seas. In total, 43 specimens were caught from 2009 to 2021, of which 41 specimens were caught during 2017-2021. All specimens, except one, were caught using a pelagic trawl (cod-end mesh-size: 50 mm) close to the surface (trawl depth: 0-35 m) with in situ temperature ranging from 9 to 13°C. The area south of Iceland is characterized by having warmer temperatures than other areas around the island, which might be indicative of a northern limit for the distribution of black ruff. The fish were primarily in the range of 29-46 cm with a few larger individuals up to 71 cm. Fourteen fish, caught in 2017 and 2021, were dissected to gather biological information on this species. These fish were all juveniles with no obvious sign of gonad development. Correlations between total length, fork length, and standard length are presented. Otoliths were thin and delicate with a length of ~13-16 mm, and otolith size (length, width, and area) was correlated with fish size. Much of the stomach content was at an advanced stage of digestion, but some contents could be identified and consisted of invertebrates, primarily of the orders Amphipoda and Calanoida with some unidentified fish also present.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Kennedy
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Ísafjörður, Iceland
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16
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Hálfdánsdóttir B, Pálsdóttir SÓ, Ólafsdóttir ÓÁ, Swift EM. Normal birth rates before and after the merging of mixed-risk and low-risk maternity wards in Iceland: A retrospective cohort study on the impact of inter-professional preventative measures. Birth 2024; 51:152-162. [PMID: 37800388 DOI: 10.1111/birt.12776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2014, the National University Hospital of Iceland (NUHI) merged a mixed-risk birth unit and a midwifery-led low-risk unit into one mixed-risk unit. Interprofessional preventative and mitigating measures were implemented since there was a known threat of cultural contamination between mixed-risk and low-risk birth environments. The aim of the study was to assess whether the NUHI's goal of protecting the rates of birth without intervention had been achieved and to support further development of labor services. METHODS A retrospective cohort study of all women who had singleton births at NUHI birth units in two 2-year periods, 2012-2013 and 2015-2016. The primary outcome variables, birth without intervention, with or without artificial rupture of membranes (AROM), were adjusted for confounding variables using logistic regression analysis. Secondary outcome variables (individual interventions and maternal and neonatal complications) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t test, and Chi-square test. RESULTS The rate of births without interventions, both with and without AROM, increased significantly after the unit merger and accompanying preventative measures. The rates of AROM, oxytocin augmentation, episiotomies, and epidural analgesia decreased significantly. The rate of induction increased significantly. There were no significant differences in maternal or neonatal complication rates. CONCLUSIONS Interprofessional preventative measures, implemented alongside a mixed-risk and low-risk birth unit merger, can increase rates of births without interventions in a mixed-risk hospital setting. However, it is necessary to maintain awareness of the possible effects of a mixed-risk birth environment on the use of childbirth interventions and examine the long-term effects of preventative measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berglind Hálfdánsdóttir
- Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | | | - Ólöf Ásta Ólafsdóttir
- Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Emma Marie Swift
- Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
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17
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Gouveia MDCLV, Sveinbjarnardottir EK, Rodrigues MJB, Silva RMLB, Baptista MS, Henriques MAP. Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Psychometric Validation of the European Portuguese Version of the Iceland-Expressive Family Functioning Questionnaire (ICE-EFFQ). J Fam Nurs 2024; 30:7-29. [PMID: 38041390 PMCID: PMC10788046 DOI: 10.1177/10748407231205038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
A family's experience of mental illness can change the family's functioning. In clinical contexts, valid and reliable instruments that assess family functioning, therapeutic changes, and the effects of family nursing interventions are needed. This study focuses on the linguistic and cultural adaptation of the Iceland-Expressive Family Functioning Questionnaire (ICE-EFFQ) to European Portuguese and examines the psychometric properties of this instrument. A non-random sample of 121 Portuguese depressed patients and their relatives completed the questionnaire. Principal components analysis extracted 4 factors, explaining 55.58% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed acceptable adjustment quality indices. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was adequate for the global scale α = .86 and for the 4 subscales: communication α = .79, expression of emotions α = .68, problem-solving α = .71, and cooperation α = .61. The Portuguese version of ICE-EFFQ is a sensitive, valid, and reliable instrument for use with Portuguese families with adult members with depression and can be valuable in assessing these families' expressive functioning, before and after intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria do Carmo Lemos Vieira Gouveia
- Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Nursing School of Lisbon, Portugal
- University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | - Maria Adriana Pereira Henriques
- Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Nursing School of Lisbon, Portugal
- University of Lisbon, Portugal
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18
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Gudjonsson T. [Increasing the number of medical students at the University of Iceland: challenges and working plan]. LAEKNABLADID 2024; 110:75. [PMID: 38270355 DOI: 10.17992/lbl.2024.02.778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thorarinn Gudjonsson
- professor, Dean of Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland
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19
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Greenblatt SH, Bjarnason T, Thoroddsdottir T, Guðmundsson K, Hagan MJ, Telfeian AE. How a Scoville aneurysm clip fought in the Cold War and helped to establish neurosurgery in Iceland. J Neurosurg 2024; 140:463-468. [PMID: 37548578 DOI: 10.3171/2023.5.jns23214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
It can be said that the specialty of neurosurgery in Iceland had its beginnings on November 30, 1971, with the arrival of a huge American C-130 Hercules aircraft. It was carrying a small package containing Scoville aneurysm clips. They were sent to the late Bjarni Hannesson (1938-2013), who had received his neurosurgical training in 1967-1971 at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (then known as Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and located in Hanover, New Hampshire). He used one to clip the right posterior communicating artery aneurysm of a 34-year-old fisherman, who recovered well. The apparent reason for the use of such a huge aircraft for such a small payload is to be found in the sociocultural politics of the Cold War. It involved the continued presence of the American base at Keflavík, where the C-130 landed. The base was under pressure to be closed by Iceland's left-leaning, nominally communist government. The C-130's arrival generated welcome publicity for the continued operation of the American base, which is still there.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel H Greenblatt
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | | | | | | | - Matthew J Hagan
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Albert E Telfeian
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
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20
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Klinkel S, Marchewski J, Witt S, Roscher K. [Retropharyngeal manifestation of T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma in a 7-year-old Icelandic gelding]. Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere 2024; 52:46-52. [PMID: 38412951 DOI: 10.1055/a-2246-2910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
A 7-year-old Icelandic gelding was presented with acute severe dyspnea of one day duration and purulent nasal discharge that had been present for 6 weeks. Clinically, the initial examination focused on severe enlargement of the mandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes as well as a mixed dyspnea.The diagnosis of a malignant lymphoma was evident following laboratory diagnostics, endoscopy, and cytological examination of a fine needle aspiration of a mandibular lymph node. The gelding was euthanized due to the poor prognosis and a significantly disturbed general condition. Pathohistological examination revealed a multicentric T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Klinkel
- Klinik für Pferde, Innere Medizin, Klinikum Veterinärmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
| | - Julia Marchewski
- Institut für Veterinär-Pathologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
| | - Swantje Witt
- Klinische Pathophysiologie und Klinische Laboratoriumsdiagnostik, Klinikum Veterinärmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
| | - Katja Roscher
- Klinik für Pferde, Innere Medizin, Klinikum Veterinärmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
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21
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Sigurjonsdottir HA. [Congratulations to Icelandic doctors - The 110th year of publication of The Icelandic Medical Journal]. LAEKNABLADID 2024; 110:7. [PMID: 38126790 DOI: 10.17992/lbl.2024.01.773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Helga Agusta Sigurjonsdottir
- MD, PhD, clinical professor Landspitali University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland,Senior consultant at Laeknasetur Outpatient clinic.Chief Editor of the Icelandic Medical Journal
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22
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Skarphedinsson G, Speight Kristínardóttir SÓ, Gústavsson SM, Sigurðsson JF. Parents' experience and views on the assessment and treatment of children with OCD within the public mental health system in Iceland: a qualitative study. Nord J Psychiatry 2024; 78:22-29. [PMID: 37694737 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2023.2254758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children can lead to long-lasting symptoms and access to evidence-based evaluation and treatment is crucial for its prevention. In Iceland, the law guarantees public access to the highest quality healthcare services. To date, no study has evaluated the services available for children with OCD within the national healthcare system (NMHS). This qualitative study explored the experiences of parents navigating the Icelandic NMHS for their children with OCD. METHOD AND MATERIALS Seven parents who had sought services within the NMHS for their children diagnosed with OCD at private clinics were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. The responses were analyzed using thematic framework analysis. RESULTS Nineteen themes were identified, including three overarching themes and eight overarching sub-themes, and eight sub-themes within them. A prevalent theme was the giving up on the national mental healthcare system due to parents' experiences of accessing mental healthcare for their children being challenging. Other issues faced by parents included a lack of knowledge on where to seek help, inadequate evaluation of the issue, and the lack of access to psychotherapy for their children. The healthcare workers' responses and recommendations also resulted in parents seeking treatment at private clinics. CONCLUSIONS These findings underscore the need for clearer pathways for seeking help, improved access to trained healthcare workers, and a more centralized evaluation process. These insights can potentially guide future research and policy decisions to better support families dealing with childhood OCD in Iceland.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jón Friðrik Sigurðsson
- Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
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23
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Thorisdottir B, Odinsdottir T, Thorsdottir I. A repeated cross-sectional analysis of the Icelandic baby food market surveyed in 2016, 2019 and 2021. Matern Child Nutr 2024; 20 Suppl 2:e13476. [PMID: 36738133 PMCID: PMC10765347 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that countries need to know their local commercial baby food (CBF) market. Data from other countries suggest rapid changes in CBF options, highlighting the need for repeated analysis. In that context, this repeated cross-sectional study analysed the options and nutrient quality of different CBF types available in Iceland in years 2016, 2019 and 2021. Data was gathered on formulas, porridge flours, foods in jars and pouches, finger-foods, other CBF. They were classified into 26 subgroups based on ingredients and taste (sweet/savoury). Minimum consumer age as suggested by the manufacturers and nutritional content were registered. In each data-collection, 250-275 products were available. Over a third of products (37%-44%) were in pouches. Availability of products intended for 4-11-month-old infants decreased, driven largely by a 65% decrease in availability of food in jars (sweet/savoury) between 2016 and 2021. Availability of products intended from 12+ months or without age-labels increased, driven largely by quadrupling of finger-foods (predominantly sweet) between 2016 and 2021. The overall percentage of products classified as sweet increased from 65% (2016) to 73% (2019) and 77% (2021). Some finger-foods had high sugar content (up to 72 g/100 g), partly from fruit concentrate or sugar/syrup. Like other countries, the Icelandic CBF market has moved towards less availability of food intended in the first year and more availability of sweet finger-foods for an expanded consumer age. As sugar is added to some CBF, stronger regulations on promotion of foods for young consumers and updated recommendations for parents/caregivers may be needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birna Thorisdottir
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Health SciencesUniversity of IcelandReykjavikIceland
| | - Tinna Odinsdottir
- Health Science Institute, School of Health SciencesUniversity of IcelandReykjavikIceland
| | - Inga Thorsdottir
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Health SciencesUniversity of IcelandReykjavikIceland
- Health Science Institute, School of Health SciencesUniversity of IcelandReykjavikIceland
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24
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Witze A. In pictures: lava flows into Icelandic town during volcanic eruption. Nature 2024; 625:642-643. [PMID: 38225419 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-024-00129-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
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25
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Skóra ME, Guðbergsson G, Copp GH, Jones JI. Evidence of successful recruitment of non-native pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha in Iceland. J Fish Biol 2024; 104:329-334. [PMID: 37670534 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
In mid-May 2022, pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha smolts were caught in the rivers Botnsá, Grímsá, and Langá in Iceland. This observation provides the first evidence of successful spawning and the completion of the freshwater phase of the life cycle in Icelandic rivers. It is the most western record of O. gorbuscha smolts in Europe, further west than Russia, Norway, and the UK. Smolts originating from Iceland potentially support the recruitment of this species in the North Atlantic and may lead to the establishment of a self-sustaining population in Iceland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał E Skóra
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Professor Krzysztof Skóra Hel Marine Station, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Hel, Poland
| | - Guðni Guðbergsson
- Freshwater and Aquaculture Division, Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Hafnarfjordur, Iceland
| | - Gordon H Copp
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK
- Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada
- Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - J Iwan Jones
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Sarnola K, Koskinen H, Klintrup K, Astrup C, Kurko T. Uptake and availability of new outpatient cancer medicines in 2010-2021 in Nordic countries - survey of competent authorities. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1437. [PMID: 38110924 PMCID: PMC10729379 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10421-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nordic countries excel in cancer care, but studies on uptake, costs, or managed entry agreements of cancer medicines have not been conducted recently. The aim of this study was to examine the uptake and availability of orally administered new cancer medicines in Nordic countries. Orally administered cancer medicines enable and are used in the community as part of outpatient care. Firstly, we studied the distribution, costs and adoption of managed entry agreements of these medicines, and secondly, uptake of and managed entry agreements for cancer medicines used in outpatient care that were granted marketing authorization in Europe in 2010-2021. METHODS An E-mail survey of competent authorities, meaning pharmaceutical service organizers, payers or other government or non-government actors developing pharmaceutical service operations, in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in April-June 2022. The data were analysed using frequencies and percentages for descriptive analysis. RESULTS The distribution of cancer medicines has similarities in Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, where cancer medicines can be distributed both via hospitals or hospital pharmacies for inpatient use, and via community pharmacies for outpatient use. In Denmark, cancer medicines are predominantly distributed via publicly funded hospitals. In all countries that provided data on the costs, the costs of cancer medicines had notably gone up from 2010 to 2021. The number of reimbursable medicines out of new cancer medicines varied from 36 products in Denmark and Iceland to 51 products in Sweden, out of 67 studied products. Managed entry agreements, often with confidential discounts, were in use in all Nordic countries. The number of agreements and the cancer types for which agreements were most often made varied from three agreements made in Iceland to 35 agreements made in Finland, out of 67 studied products. Average days from authorization to reimbursement of new cancer medicines varied from an average of 416 to 895 days. CONCLUSIONS Nordic countries share similar characteristics but also differ in terms of the details in distribution, adopted managed entry agreements, market entry, and availability of new orally administered cancer medicines used in the outpatient care. The costs of cancer medicines have increased in all Nordic countries during the last decade. Due to differences in health care and because orally administered cancer medicines can be dispensed at community and hospital pharmacies in all studied countries other than Denmark, the number of reimbursable medicines and managed entry agreements vary between countries. However, Nordic countries show good agreement for 2010 to 2021 in entry and reimbursement decisions of novel cancer medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kati Sarnola
- Research Unit, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), P.O. Box 450, Helsinki, 00056 KELA, Finland.
| | - Hanna Koskinen
- Research Unit, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), P.O. Box 450, Helsinki, 00056 KELA, Finland
| | - Katariina Klintrup
- Medical Advisory Centre, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Cecilie Astrup
- Business Intelligence and Health Economy, Amgros I/S, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Terhi Kurko
- Research Unit, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), P.O. Box 450, Helsinki, 00056 KELA, Finland
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Olofsson KM, van de Velde N, Peletto S, Iulini B, Pratley L, Modabberzadeh B, Małek E, Grandi G. First Swedish case of fatal equine parasitic encephalitis by Halicephalobus gingivalis. Acta Vet Scand 2023; 65:56. [PMID: 38102633 PMCID: PMC10722705 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-023-00719-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Halicephalobus gingivalis is a nematode with zoonotic potential which can cause fatal opportunistic infections in various mammals. The parasite has never been diagnosed in Sweden, in any species, prior to the presented case. CASE PRESENTATION An imported 21-year-old Icelandic mare developed severe neurological signs. The horse was eventually euthanized and submitted for post-mortem examination where severe lesions in the kidneys were noted. Histopathology revealed the presence of H. gingivalis in both kidneys and the brain. Phylogenetic analysis of the parasite determined it to belong to Lineage 1. CONCLUSIONS With the occurrence of H. gingivalis in Sweden, the disease should be added to the list of differential diagnoses in cases with acute onset of neurological disease in both horses and other mammals including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Maria Olofsson
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Norbert van de Velde
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Simone Peletto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Barbara Iulini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Laura Pratley
- Evidensia Specialisthästsjukhuset Helsingborg, Helsingborg, Sweden
| | | | - Emilian Małek
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Giulio Grandi
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden.
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Oddsdóttir C, Jónsdóttir HK, Sturludóttir E. Haematological reference intervals for pregnant Icelandic mares on pasture. Acta Vet Scand 2023; 65:57. [PMID: 38102616 PMCID: PMC10724915 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-023-00721-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have been conducted on haematological reference intervals (RIs) in Icelandic horses. Reference intervals have been published for Icelandic horses in Austria and a preliminary study in Iceland compared haematological values in riding horses to published RIs for other breeds as well as Icelandic horses abroad. Haematological parameters can vary greatly due to factors such as breed, gender, age, reproductive status, and training, as well as feeding, prior exercise and management method. Icelandic broodmares are kept on pasture under supervision throughout the year, with haylage provided during the winter, and it is therefore of interest to establish haematological reference intervals for pregnant broodmares in Iceland. The purpose of this study was to establish haematological RIs specific to Icelandic broodmares in the first months of pregnancy, kept on pasture. Blood samples from 183 mares, stabilised in EDTA were analysed using IDEXX ProCyte Dx and total protein was analysed in serum samples from 157 of the 183 mares, using IDEXX Catalyst One analyser. The RIs were established using the guidelines of the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. RESULTS The RIs for red blood cell count, haematocrit and haemoglobin were higher in pasture-kept Icelandic mares in early pregnancy, most of which were lactating, than in pregnant mares of other breeds. This was also true for white blood cell count, as well as numbers of monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, which in some instances might illustrate problems in the automated categorisation of some leukocytes. CONCLUSIONS As no RIs have been published for other pasture-kept Icelandic horses, future investigations should include other groups of pasture-kept Icelandic horses. Such an analysis might elucidate the effect of breed, management, and pregnancy on haematological values in pasture-kept Icelandic horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotta Oddsdóttir
- Division of Bacteriology and Pathology, Department of Pathology, Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur, Keldnavegi 3, 112, Reykjavík, Iceland.
| | - Hanna Kristrún Jónsdóttir
- Division of Bacteriology and Pathology, Department of Pathology, Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur, Keldnavegi 3, 112, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Erla Sturludóttir
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, Árleyni 22, 112, Reykjavík, Iceland
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Sigurðardóttir H, Boije H, Albertsdóttir E, Kristjansson T, Rhodin M, Lindgren G, Eriksson S. The genetics of gaits in Icelandic horses goes beyond DMRT3, with RELN and STAU2 identified as two new candidate genes. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:89. [PMID: 38082412 PMCID: PMC10712087 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00863-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In domesticated animals, many important traits are complex and regulated by a large number of genes, genetic interactions, and environmental influences. The ability of Icelandic horses to perform the gait 'pace' is largely influenced by a single mutation in the DMRT3 gene, but genetic modifiers likely exist. The aim of this study was to identify novel genetic factors that influence pacing ability and quality of the gait through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and correlate new findings to previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) and mutations. RESULTS Three hundred and seventy-two Icelandic horses were genotyped with the 670 K+ Axiom Equine Genotyping Array, of which 362 had gait scores from breeding field tests. A GWAS revealed several SNPs on Equus caballus chromosomes (ECA) 4, 9, and 20 that were associated (p < 1.0 × 10-5) with the breeding field test score for pace. The two novel QTL on ECA4 and 9 were located within the RELN and STAU2 genes, respectively, which have previously been associated with locomotor behavior in mice. Haplotypes were identified and the most frequent one for each of these two QTL had a large favorable effect on pace score. The second most frequent haplotype for the RELN gene was positively correlated with scores for tölt, trot, gallop, and canter. Similarly, the second most frequent haplotype for the STAU2 gene had favorable effects on scores for trot and gallop. Different genotype ratios of the haplotypes in the RELN and STAU2 genes were also observed in groups of horses with different levels of pacing ability. Furthermore, interactions (p < 0.05) were detected for the QTL in the RELN and STAU2 genes with the DMRT3 gene. The novel QTL on ECA4, 9, and 20, along with the effects of the DMRT3 variant, were estimated to account jointly for 27.4% of the phenotypic variance of the gait pace. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide valuable information about the genetic architecture of pace beyond the contribution of the DMRT3 gene and indicate genetic interactions that contribute to the complexity of this trait. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the underlying genetic factors and interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiðrún Sigurðardóttir
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, Borgarbyggð, 311, Hvanneyri, Iceland.
| | - Henrik Boije
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elsa Albertsdóttir
- The Icelandic Agricultural Advisory Centre, Hagatorgi 1, 107, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Thorvaldur Kristjansson
- Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, Borgarbyggð, 311, Hvanneyri, Iceland
| | - Marie Rhodin
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7011, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gabriella Lindgren
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Biosystems, Center for Animal Breeding and Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Susanne Eriksson
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
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Selbmann A, Miller PJO, Wensveen PJ, Svavarsson J, Samarra FIP. Call combination patterns in Icelandic killer whales (Orcinus orca). Sci Rep 2023; 13:21771. [PMID: 38065973 PMCID: PMC10709340 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48349-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Acoustic sequences have been described in a range of species and in varying complexity. Cetaceans are known to produce complex song displays but these are generally limited to mysticetes; little is known about call combinations in odontocetes. Here we investigate call combinations produced by killer whales (Orcinus orca), a highly social and vocal species. Using acoustic recordings from 22 multisensor tags, we use a first order Markov model to show that transitions between call types or subtypes were significantly different from random, with repetitions and specific call combinations occurring more often than expected by chance. The mixed call combinations were composed of two or three calls and were part of three call combination clusters. Call combinations were recorded over several years, from different individuals, and several social clusters. The most common call combination cluster consisted of six call (sub-)types. Although different combinations were generated, there were clear rules regarding which were the first and last call types produced, and combinations were highly stereotyped. Two of the three call combination clusters were produced outside of feeding contexts, but their function remains unclear and further research is required to determine possible functions and whether these combinations could be behaviour- or group-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Selbmann
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.
| | - Patrick J O Miller
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Paul J Wensveen
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Jörundur Svavarsson
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Filipa I P Samarra
- Institute of Research Centres, University of Iceland, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
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Sigurbergsdóttir AÝ, Rögnvaldsson S, Thorsteinsdóttir S, Sverrisdóttir I, Sigurðardóttir GÁ, Viðarsson B, Önundarson PT, Agnarsson BA, Sigurðardóttir M, Þorsteinsdóttir I, Ólafsson Í, Þórðardóttir ÁR, Gíslason GK, Ólafsson A, Hultcrantz M, Durie BGM, Harding S, Landgren O, Löve TJ, Kristinsson SY. Disease associations with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance can only be evaluated using screened cohorts: results from the population-based iStopMM study. Haematologica 2023; 108:3392-3398. [PMID: 37439374 PMCID: PMC10690899 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2023.283191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is an asymptomatic precursor condition that precedes multiple myeloma and related disorders but has also been associated with other medical conditions. Since systematic screening is not recommended, MGUS is typically diagnosed due to underlying diseases and most cases are not diagnosed. Most previous studies on MGUS disease associations have been based on clinical cohorts, possibly resulting in selection bias. Here we estimate this selection bias by comparing clinically diagnosed and screened individuals with MGUS with regards to demographics, laboratory features, and comorbidities. A total of 75,422 participants in the Iceland Screens, Treats, or Prevents Multiple Myeloma (iStopMM) study were screened for MGUS by serum protein electrophoresis, immunofixation and free light chain assay (clinicaltrials gov. Identifier: NCT03327597). We identified 3,352 individuals with MGUS, whereof 240 had previously been clinically diagnosed (clinical MGUS), and crosslinked our data with large, nationwide registries for information on comorbidities. Those with clinical MGUS were more likely to have at least one comorbidity (odds ratio=2.24; 95% confidence interval: 1.30-4.19), and on average had more comorbidities than the screened MGUS group (3.23 vs. 2.36, mean difference 0.68; 95% confidence interval: 0.46-0.90). They were also more likely to have rheumatological disease, neurological disease, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, heart failure, or endocrine disorders. These findings indicate that individuals with clinical MGUS have more comorbidities than the general MGUS population and that previous studies have been affected by significant selection bias. Our findings highlight the importance of screening data when studying biological and epidemiological implications of MGUS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sæmundur Rögnvaldsson
- University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland; Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík
| | | | | | | | - Brynjar Viðarsson
- Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík
| | - Páll Torfi Önundarson
- University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland; Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík
| | | | | | | | - Ísleifur Ólafsson
- Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ola Landgren
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL
| | - Thorvarður Jón Löve
- University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland; Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík
| | - Sigurður Yngvi Kristinsson
- University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland; Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavík.
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Karlsdóttir E, Gudmundsdottir BG, Sveinbjörnsdóttir B. Use of School-Based Interventions for ADHD, Professional Support, and Burnout Symptoms among Teachers in Iceland. J Atten Disord 2023; 27:1583-1595. [PMID: 37449377 DOI: 10.1177/10870547231187149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Effective school-based interventions for youth with ADHD are critical to their success. We examined whether teacher application of such interventions and perceptions of professional support related to greater well-being, including fewer burnout symptoms. METHOD Teachers in primary schools in Iceland were invited to participate in an online survey, including questions about professional support and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The sample comprised N = 592 (88.5% female) participants. RESULTS Regression analyses indicated that use of recommended ADHD interventions was positively associated with MBI-Personal Achievement (PA). Greater satisfaction with professional support related to lower MBI-Emotional Exhaustion and MBI-Depersonalization, and higher MBI-PA. Level of professional support was positively associated with use of recommended interventions. CONCLUSION Effective interventions and support for students with ADHD may enhance teacher well-being. Icelandic teachers require further training and professional support in best practices for ADHD, to help promote teacher and student success.
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Xuereb N, Ólafsdóttir K, Samarra F, Svavarsson J, Magnúsdóttir EE. POPs in long-finned pilot whales mass stranded in Iceland as a proxy for their physiological condition. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 197:115758. [PMID: 37979533 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) are the most frequently stranded cetaceans in the world; however, the predominant drivers of these events are poorly understood. In this study the levels of persistent organic pollutants from pilot whales stranded in North-east Iceland were quantified and compared to historical data and physical parameters to investigate whether contaminant load may have influenced the physiological state of stranded individuals, how these loads fluctuate with sex and age group, and if this is consistent with the literature. Historical comparison was also carried out to discern how pollutant contamination has changed throughout the past few decades. DDE, transnonachlor and PCB-153 were the top three pollutants respectively. The accumulation of POPs was greater on average in immature individuals than adults, whilst among adults, males had higher concentration than females. Moreover, despite an indication of decreasing POP loads throughout the years, knowledge of harmful thresholds remains exceedingly limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholai Xuereb
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland.
| | - Kristín Ólafsdóttir
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Iceland, Hofsvallagata 53, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Filipa Samarra
- University of Iceland's Institute of Research Centers, Ægisgata 2, 900 Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
| | - Jörundur Svavarsson
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Edda Elísabet Magnúsdóttir
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland; Faculty of Subject Teacher Education, University of Iceland, Askja, Sturlugata 7, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland
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Vangsted A, Thinggaard BS, Nissen AHK, Hajari JN, Klefter ON, Krogh Nielsen M, Sørensen TL, Grauslund J, Subhi Y. Prevalence of geographic atrophy in Nordic countries and number of patients potentially eligible for intravitreal complement inhibitor treatment: A systematic review with meta-analyses and forecasting study. Acta Ophthalmol 2023; 101:857-868. [PMID: 37680141 DOI: 10.1111/aos.15768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
We systematically reviewed the literature on the prevalence of geographic atrophy (GA) in Nordic populations, conducted meta-analyses on age-stratified estimates, and calculated current and future number of patients and those potentially eligible for intravitreal complement inhibitor treatment. We followed the PRISMA guidelines, and our protocol was registered in PROSPERO. Ten databases were searched on 22 April 2023 for population-based studies of GA prevalence. Based on clinical descriptive analyses of GA and eligibility criteria of the phase III studies for intravitreal pegcetacoplan (complement C3 and C3b inhibitor), we were able to calculate the proportion of patients with GA potentially eligible for therapy. Finally, we extracted population data for Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) from Eurostat, applied prevalence statistics to the extracted census and forecasting data to estimate the number of patients with GA, and then applied the proportion eligible for intravitreal pegcetacoplan therapy. We identified six studies with a total of 10 159 individuals. Prevalence of GA was estimated to 0.4% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.2%-0.8%), 1.5% (95% CI: 0.7%-2.6%), and 7.6% (95% CI: 4.6%-11.3%) for individuals aged 60-69, 70-79, and 80+ years, respectively. In Nordic countries, we estimate a total of 166 307 individuals with GA in 2023, increasing to 277 893 in 2050. Of these, 90 803 individuals in 2023, increasing to 151 730 in 2050, are potentially eligible for intravitreal complement inhibitor treatment. Considering these large numbers, our study highlights the importance of this topic in the coming years and its potential to significantly impact our clinical practice, organization, and staffing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Vangsted
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Benjamin S Thinggaard
- Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anne H K Nissen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Javad N Hajari
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Oliver N Klefter
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Torben L Sørensen
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Jakob Grauslund
- Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
| | - Yousif Subhi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
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Roman J. Surtsey at 60 Eat, Poop, Die: How Animals Make Our World Joe Roman Little, Brown Spark, 2023. 288 pp. Science 2023; 382:1004. [PMID: 38033055 DOI: 10.1126/science.adl6569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
A volcanic island off the coast of Iceland celebrates six decades as a living laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Roman
- The author is at the Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
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Tretow M, Hain AM, Bienert-Zeit A. Widespread prevalence of Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis detected in German Icelandic horse population: impact of anamnestic factors on etiology. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2023; 261:S102-S107. [PMID: 37734718 DOI: 10.2460/javma.23.05.0301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare anamnestic factors in Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH) in affected and nonaffected horses to detect risk factors for horses developing EOTRH. ANIMALS A total of 154 Icelandic horses, aged 15 years and older, examined at 22 locations in Lower Saxony, Germany. The investigations took place from October 2020 to December 2021. METHODS Anamnestic data were collected using an owner-completed questionnaire. Horses underwent a thorough physical examination and CBC. The rostral oral cavity was clinically examined, and intraoral radiographs of the incisors were taken. Clinical and radiographic findings were scored. Based on the results, the study population was separated into "EOTRH-affected" and "EOTRH-healthy" horses. Both groups were compared to identify differences within the anamnestic factors. In case of inconclusive findings, some horses were classified as "suspicious". RESULTS The diagnosis of EOTRH was made in 72.2% (109/151) of horses. The risk of contracting the disease increased with the age of the horse (P = .004). In addition, there was a predisposition for male animals (P = .032). Feeding, keeping, and dental treatments showed no significant influence, while place of birth seemed to influence horses developing EOTRH (P = .017). CLINICAL RELEVANCE The results highlight how widespread EOTRH is among the German Icelandic horse population and the need for raising awareness of EOTRH, as many horses were not suspected of having EOTRH beforehand. Moreover, numerous etiological propositions exist, but, to date, no studies have investigated their relevance.
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Jónsson JE, Rickowski FS, Ruland F, Ásgeirsson Á, Jeschke JM. Long-term data reveal contrasting impacts of native versus invasive nest predators in Iceland. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:2066-2076. [PMID: 37818595 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Bird species on islands are strongly impacted by biological invasions, with the Icelandic common eider (Somateria mollissima borealis) being particularly threatened. Down collection by local families in Breiðafjörður, West Iceland, provided long-term datasets of nests from two archipelagos, covering 95 islands over 123 years and 39 islands over 27 years, respectively. Using these exceptional datasets, we found that the arrival of the invasive semi-aquatic American mink (Neogale vison) was a more impactful driver of population dynamics than climate. This invasive predator heavily reduced eider nest numbers by ca. 60% in the Brokey archipelago. In contrast, we detected an apparently adaptive response to the return of the native fox in the Purkey archipelago, with dense nests on islands inaccessible to the fox and no apparent impact on eider populations. This difference might be due to the eiders lacking a joint evolutionary history with the mink and therefore lacking appropriate antipredator responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jón Einar Jónsson
- University of Iceland's Research Center at Snaefellsnes, Stykkishólmur, Iceland
| | - Fiona S Rickowski
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Ruland
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Árni Ásgeirsson
- University of Iceland's Research Center at Snaefellsnes, Stykkishólmur, Iceland
| | - Jonathan M Jeschke
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
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Harning DJ, Sacco S, Anamthawat-Jónsson K, Ardenghi N, Thordarson T, Raberg JH, Sepúlveda J, Geirsdóttir Á, Shapiro B, Miller GH. Delayed postglacial colonization of Betula in Iceland and the circum North Atlantic. eLife 2023; 12:RP87749. [PMID: 37955570 PMCID: PMC10642962 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
As the Arctic continues to warm, woody shrubs are expected to expand northward. This process, known as 'shrubification,' has important implications for regional biodiversity, food web structure, and high-latitude temperature amplification. While the future rate of shrubification remains poorly constrained, past records of plant immigration to newly deglaciated landscapes in the Arctic may serve as useful analogs. We provide one new postglacial Holocene sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) record of vascular plants from Iceland and place a second Iceland postglacial sedaDNA record on an improved geochronology; both show Salicaceae present shortly after deglaciation, whereas Betulaceae first appears more than 1000 y later. We find a similar pattern of delayed Betulaceae colonization in eight previously published postglacial sedaDNA records from across the glaciated circum North Atlantic. In nearly all cases, we find that Salicaceae colonizes earlier than Betulaceae and that Betulaceae colonization is increasingly delayed for locations farther from glacial-age woody plant refugia. These trends in Salicaceae and Betulaceae colonization are consistent with the plant families' environmental tolerances, species diversity, reproductive strategies, seed sizes, and soil preferences. As these reconstructions capture the efficiency of postglacial vascular plant migration during a past period of high-latitude warming, a similarly slow response of some woody shrubs to current warming in glaciated regions, and possibly non-glaciated tundra, may delay Arctic shrubification and future changes in the structure of tundra ecosystems and temperature amplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Harning
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Samuel Sacco
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa CruzSanta CruzUnited States
| | | | - Nicolò Ardenghi
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Thor Thordarson
- Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of IcelandReykjavikIceland
| | - Jonathan H Raberg
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Julio Sepúlveda
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | | | - Beth Shapiro
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa CruzSanta CruzUnited States
| | - Gifford H Miller
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
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Brawn C, Hamilton BM, Savoca MS, Bardarson B, Vermaire JC, Provencher J. Suspected anthropogenic microparticle ingestion by Icelandic capelin. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 196:115551. [PMID: 37769403 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Documented ingestion of microplastics and other anthropogenic microparticles (AMP) by marine fishes has increased over the last decade. However, baseline datasets on AMP ingestion in Arctic fish species are limited. This study documents AMP ingestion in Icelandic capelin (Mallotus villosus) and investigates how this relates to several biological variables. A total of 160 capelin gastrointestinal tracts were sampled and digested using 10 % potassium hydroxide and visual inspection protocols. A total frequency of occurrence (%FO) of 52.5 % and a mean AMP abundance of 1.33 ± 2.37 per individual was found (particles > 45 μm). The colour of AMP detected was significantly different between sampling locations. However, no differences in %FO or mean AMP abundance were detected between sampling locations or related to body size, gut fullness, or sex. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on AMP ingestion by Arctic marine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Brawn
- University Centre of the Westfjords, Ísafjörður 400, Iceland.
| | - Bonnie M Hamilton
- University of Toronto, Dept. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Matthew S Savoca
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Oceans, Stanford University, California, USA
| | - Birkir Bardarson
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Reykjavík 220, Iceland
| | - Jesse C Vermaire
- Aquatic Ecosystems and Environmental Change Laboratory, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and Institute for Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Jennifer Provencher
- Environment Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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Olafsson RP, Kvaran K, Ketilsdottir K, Hallgrimsdottir K, Sigurdsson EL, Sigurdsson E. [Psychedelics and treatment of mental disorders: A survey of attitudes and knowledge among psychiatrists, general practitioners and psychologists in Iceland]. LAEKNABLADID 2023; 109:495-503. [PMID: 37909445 DOI: 10.17992/lbl.2023.11.766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Interest in the use of psychedelics has increased following reports of their possible therapeutic potential. However, little is known about the knowledge of and attitudes towards the substances among health care professional who provide treatment for mental disorders in Iceland. An online survey was therefore conducted among members of the Icelandic associations of psychiatrists, general practitioners and psychologists. METHODS Respondents were 256 in total, including 177 psychologists, 38 psychiatrists and 41 general practitioners that provided information on their background, type of work, knowledge of and attitude towards different types of psychedelic substances and their views on optimal service delivery if psychedelics were approved by licencing authorities and used for treatment. RESULTS Around half of psychiatrists reported having received questions about treatment with psychedelics in their clinical work, compared to only 14,6% of general practitioners and 17,5% of psychologists. The majority of respondents had little, or no knowledge of the substances targeted in the survey. A majority also expressed negative attitudes towards treatment with psilocybin mushrooms, but was positive towards ongoing scientific research and felt that such a treatment should be prescribed and provided by psychiatrists. Moreover, the majority view was that psilocybin treatment should be provided in specialised clinics or psychiatric units in a hospital setting. Scientific articles on the topic, discussions with colleagues and information in the media were identified as having had most influence on respondents´ attitudes towards psychedelics. Most respondents were interested in further education on psychedelics. CONCLUSIONS Respondents among these three professions felt that the time has not yet come to use psychedelics in the treatment of mental disorders in Iceland but thought more education on psychedelics, their potential efficacy and adverse health effects is important given the increased interest in psychedelics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Emil L Sigurdsson
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Development Centre for Primary Healthcare in Iceland
| | - Engilbert Sigurdsson
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Landspitali University Hospital, Mental Health Services, Reykjavik
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41
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Bjarnason R. [Shortages of medications in Iceland. Local reasons?]. LAEKNABLADID 2023; 109:493. [PMID: 37909444 DOI: 10.17992/lbl.2023.11.765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ragnar Bjarnason
- MD, PhD Professor of Pediatrics, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Chief of Pediatrics and Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Children´s Medical Center Landspitali - The National University Hospital of Iceland
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Gunnarsson B, Björnsdóttir KM, Dúason S, Ingólfsson Á. Locating helicopter ambulance bases in Iceland: efficient and fair solutions. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med 2023; 31:70. [PMID: 37915061 PMCID: PMC10621180 DOI: 10.1186/s13049-023-01114-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fixed-wing air ambulances play an important role in healthcare in rural Iceland. More frequent use of helicopter ambulances has been suggested to shorten response times and increase equity in access to advanced emergency care. In finding optimal base locations, the objective is often efficiency-maximizing the number of individuals who can be reached within a given time. This approach benefits people in densely populated areas more than people living in remote areas and the solution is not necessarily fair. This study aimed to find efficient and fair helicopter ambulance base locations in Iceland. METHODS We used high-resolution population and incident location data to estimate the service demand for helicopter ambulances, with possible base locations limited to twenty-one airports and landing strips around the country. Base locations were estimated using both the maximal covering location problem (MCLP) optimization model, which aimed for maximal coverage of demand, and the fringe sensitive location problem (FSLP) model, which also considered uncovered demand (i.e., beyond the response time threshold). We explored the percentage of the population and incidents covered by one to three helicopter bases within 45-, 60-, and 75-min response time thresholds, conditioned or not, on the single existing base located at Reykjavík Airport. This resulted in a total of eighteen combinations of conditions for each model. The models were implemented in R and solved using Gurobi. RESULTS Model solutions for base locations differed between the demand datasets for two out of eighteen combinations, both with the lowest service standard. Base locations differed between the MCLP and FSLP models for one combination involving a single base, and for two combinations involving two bases. Three bases covered all or almost all demand with longer response time thresholds, and the models differed in four of six combinations. The two helicopter ambulance bases can possibly obtain 97% coverage within 60 min, with bases in Húsafell and Grímsstaðir. Bases at Reykjavík Airport and Akureyri would cover 94.2%, whereas bases at Reykjavík Airport and Egilsstaðir would cover 88.5% of demand. CONCLUSION An efficient and fair solution would be to locate bases at Reykjavík Airport and in Akureyri or Egilsstaðir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Gunnarsson
- Institute of Health Science Research, University of Akureyri, Akureyri, Iceland.
- Akureyri Hospital, Akureyri, Iceland.
| | | | - Sveinbjörn Dúason
- Institute of Health Science Research, University of Akureyri, Akureyri, Iceland
| | - Ármann Ingólfsson
- Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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43
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Berthelot F, Unnsteinsdóttir ER, Carbonell Ellgutter JA, Ehrich D. Long-term responses of Icelandic Arctic foxes to changes in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282128. [PMID: 37792685 PMCID: PMC10550166 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The long-term dynamics of predator populations may be driven by fluctuations in resource availability and reflect ecosystem changes such as those induced by climate change. The Icelandic Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) population has known major fluctuations in size since the 1950s. Using stable isotopes analysis of bone collagen over a long-time series (1979-2018), we aimed at identifying the main resources used by Icelandic Arctic foxes during periods of growth and decline to assess if the variations in their population size are linked to fluctuations in the availability of resources. We hypothesized that (1) the decline in Seabird abundance was responsible for the decrease in the fox population; and (2) that the growth in the fox population combined to fluctuations in main resources would lead to an increase in intra-specific competition, ultimately leading to variations in their isotopic niches at the population scale. The isotopic composition of Arctic fox bones differed clearly between inland and coast. Stable isotopes mixing models suggested that marine resources and rock ptarmigans were the most important food source and highlighted a rather stable diet in coastal habitats compared to inland habitats where more fluctuations in dietary composition were observed. Coastal foxes had a broader niche than inland foxes, and there was more variation in niche size in the inland habitat. Our results tend to confirm that a general decline in seabird populations drove the decline in Arctic foxes, especially in coastal habitats. For the inland foxes, our results suggest that the lack of marine resources might have led to an increased use of ptarmigans especially during the most recent period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Berthelot
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT -The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | | | - Dorothee Ehrich
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT -The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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44
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Vidović A, Kuhn S. Total removal of the fourth metacarpal bone in an Icelandic horse. Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere 2023; 51:327-332. [PMID: 37956675 DOI: 10.1055/a-2180-2981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Fractures of the splint bones are the most common fractures in horses. Various treatment options for splint bone fractures (MC/MT II and IV), including conservative and surgical management, have been described. This report describes an acute splint bone fracture due to external trauma in a 17-year-old Icelandic mare. The fracture was diagnosed as an open multifragment fracture of the proximal third of the fourth metacarpal bone (MCIV) in the right front limb. Surgery was performed with the horse under general anaesthesia. The distal fragments were removed, and the distal part of the proximal remnant splint bone was cut with an osteotome. During the postoperative period, a routine x-ray-control two days after surgery showed a dislocated fracture of the remaining proximal part of the fourth metacarpal bone. In a second surgery, the proximal part of MCIV was entirely removed. After a reconvalescence period of 5 month, the horse reached her previous level of performance as a leisure horse. The mare is still free of lameness 6 years after the incident.
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Ortiz-Rivero J, Garrido-Benavent I, Heiðmarsson S, de los Ríos A. Moss and Liverwort Covers Structure Soil Bacterial and Fungal Communities Differently in the Icelandic Highlands. Microb Ecol 2023; 86:1893-1908. [PMID: 36802019 PMCID: PMC10497656 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02194-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cryptogamic covers extend over vast polar tundra regions and their main components, e.g., bryophytes and lichens, are frequently the first visible colonizers of deglaciated areas. To understand their role in polar soil development, we analyzed how cryptogamic covers dominated by different bryophyte lineages (mosses and liverworts) influence the diversity and composition of edaphic bacterial and fungal communities as well as the abiotic attributes of underlying soils in the southern part of the Highlands of Iceland. For comparison, the same traits were examined in soils devoid of bryophyte covers. We measured an increase in soil C, N, and organic matter contents coupled with a lower pH in association with bryophyte cover establishment. However, liverwort covers showed noticeably higher C and N contents than moss covers. Significant changes in diversity and composition of bacterial and fungal communities were revealed between (a) bare and bryophyte-covered soils, (b) bryophyte covers and the underlying soils, and (c) moss and liverworts covers. These differences were more obvious for fungi than bacteria, and involved different lineages of saprotrophic and symbiotic fungi, which suggests a certain specificity of microbial taxa to particular bryophyte groups. In addition, differences observed in the spatial structure of the two bryophyte covers may be also responsible for the detected differences in microbial community diversity and composition. Altogether, our findings indicate that soil microbial communities and abiotic attributes are ultimately affected by the composition of the most conspicuous elements of cryptogamic covers in polar regions, which is of great value to predict the biotic responses of these ecosystems to future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Ortiz-Rivero
- Department of Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), C/ Serrano 115 dpdo, E-28045 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isaac Garrido-Benavent
- Departament de Botànica i Geologia, Fac. CC. Biològiques, Universitat de València, C/ Doctor Moliner 50, E-46100 Burjassot, Valencia Spain
| | - Starri Heiðmarsson
- Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Akureyri Division, Borgir Nordurslod, 600 Akureyri, Iceland
- Present address: Northwest Iceland Nature Research Centre, Aðalgötu 2, 550 Sauðárkrókur, Iceland
| | - Asunción de los Ríos
- Department of Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), C/ Serrano 115 dpdo, E-28045 Madrid, Spain
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46
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Valsdottir E, Haraldsson H, Schram AB, Dieckmann P. [Simulation in medical education in Iceland]. LAEKNABLADID 2023; 109:439-445. [PMID: 37767933 DOI: 10.17992/lbl.2023.10.761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Skills labs and simulation centers have become an integrated part of teaching methods in many medical schools. This study aims to describe the status of simulation in medical education in Iceland by examining student and faculty experience, facilitating and barring factors for its use in teaching and how the concept appears in the Course Catalog. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was threefold. In parts one and two, electronic surveys were sent to students and faculty members at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland. Part three was a key word search in the University´s course catalogue relating to simulation. RESULTS Response rate for both student and faculty surveys was 65%. Simulation as a teaching method was reported for 10% of faculty according to students but approximately a third of faculty, according to faculty. Attitudes of students and faculty were positive. Faculty, previously exposed to simulation, were more likely to use simulation, as were those who had received training in educational methods. Main barriers identified were lack of facilities, equipment, funds, and training. Key words related to simulation appeared rarely in the University Course Catalogue. CONCLUSION Student and faculty experience with simulation is limited, less than third of faculty claim to have used simulation when teaching medical students. Barring factors in Iceland are similar to what has been reported elsewhere. Lack of words describing simulation in the Course Catalog may raise questions about emphasis on teaching methods or lack thereof. Potential ways to increase the use of simulation could be to improve infrastructure and offer training in diverse educational methods, including simulation, to selected faculty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Valsdottir
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Landspítali - National University Hospital of Iceland
| | - Hans Haraldsson
- Educational Research Institute, School of Education, University of Iceland
| | | | - Peter Dieckmann
- Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES), Denmark, Department of Technology and Quality, Stavanger University, Norway, Department of Public Health, Copenhagen University, Denmark
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Ragozin AV, Safonov AL, Grishin VV, Stochik AA. [WORLD EXPERIENCE: HOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRINCIPLES OF ACADEMICIAN OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES OF THE USSR N. A. SEMASHKO HELPED ICELAND TO CREATE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD. PART 2. PRINCIPLES FUNCTIONING OF THE ICELANDIC HEALTH SYSTEM]. Probl Sotsialnoi Gig Zdravookhranenniiai Istor Med 2023; 31:1290-1296. [PMID: 38069900 DOI: 10.32687/0869-866x-2023-31-s2-1290-1296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Annotation. The review article is devoted to the healthcare system of Iceland, which demonstrates some of the best indicators of public health in the world at relatively low costs for a developed European country. The successful experience of Icelandic healthcare is important for Russia, on the one hand, due to the proximity of this country to many Russian regions in terms of climatic and geographical location, demography and territorial development. On the other hand, the success of Iceland's healthcare is closely linked to the development of a model, in many ways similar to the Soviet model of Nikolai Semashko, which Russia has abandoned. The authors believe that Iceland's experience can be used in the modernization of regional healthcare systems in Eastern Siberia, the Far East and the Arctic, as well as Russian healthcare in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Ragozin
- Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - A L Safonov
- Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation,
| | - V V Grishin
- Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - A A Stochik
- Scientific Research Institute of Healthcare Organization and Medical Management at the Department of Healthcare of Moscow, Moscow, Russian Federation
- FGBNU "N. A. Semashko National Research Institute of Public Health" of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, Moscow, Russian Federation
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48
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Gudmundsdottir DB, Brynjolfsdottir B, Halldorsdottir SB, Halldórsdóttir HR, Thorsteinsdottir S, Valdimarsdottir H. Psychometric evaluation of an Icelandic translation of the adolescent and parent report versions of the BATH pain questionnaires and investigation of the psychosocial impact of pain on adolescents with chronic disease. Scand J Psychol 2023; 64:609-617. [PMID: 36872592 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Adolescents commonly experience chronic pain, which can have considerable multidimensional effects on their lives, impacting, for example, their school functioning, leisure activities, sleep, and emotional functioning. Therefore, valid and reliable measurements of these multidimensional and potentially adverse effects, reflecting both the adolescents' and parents' perceptions, are essential. At present, no such measures are available in Iceland. The primary aim of the current study was to translate the Bath Adolescent Pain Questionnaire (BAPQ) and the Bath Adolescent Pain Questionnaire parent version (BAPQ-P) and evaluate the psychometric qualities of the Icelandic translation. The study's secondary aim was to investigate the multidimensional impact of chronic pain on adolescents with chronic illness using these instruments. Participants were 45 adolescents (11-16 years old) registered in the medical records of the National University Hospital of Iceland with one of the following diagnoses: (1) Crohn's or colitis (IBD); (2) migraine; or (3) arthritis. Sixty-nine parents of the diagnosed adolescents also participated (a total of 41 adolescent and parent dyads). To establish the psychometric qualities of the BAPQ and BAPQ-P, participants were asked to complete several questionnaires online. The preliminary results showed that the Icelandic translations of the BAPQ and BAPQ-P scales have good psychometric qualities, providing valid and reliable measures to assess the multidimensional effects of chronic pain in adolescents in both clinical and research settings. Moreover, the results showed that chronic pain impacts various domains in the adolescents' lives and that the prevalence of anxiety and depression was quite high among them.
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Ragozin AV, Safonov AL, Grishin VV, Stochik AA. [WORLD EXPERIENCE: HOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRINCIPLES OF ACADEMICIAN OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES OF THE USSR N. A. SEMASHKO HELPED ICELAND TO CREATE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD. PART 1. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW]. Probl Sotsialnoi Gig Zdravookhranenniiai Istor Med 2023; 31:1282-1289. [PMID: 38069899 DOI: 10.32687/0869-866x-2023-31-s2-1282-1289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Annotation. The review article is devoted to the healthcare system of Iceland, which demonstrates some of the best indicators of public health in the world at relatively low costs for a developed European country. The successful experience of Icelandic healthcare is important for Russia, on the one hand, due to the proximity of this country to many Russian regions in terms of climatic and geographical location, demography and territorial development. On the other hand, the success of Iceland's healthcare is closely linked to the development of a model, in many ways similar to the Soviet model of Nikolai Semashko, which Russia has abandoned. The authors believe that Iceland's experience can be used in the modernization of regional healthcare systems in Eastern Siberia, the Far East and the Arctic, as well as Russian healthcare in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- A V Ragozin
- Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - A L Safonov
- Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation,
| | - V V Grishin
- Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - A A Stochik
- Scientific Research Institute of Healthcare Organization and Medical Management at the Department of Healthcare of Moscow, Moscow, Russian Federation
- FGBNU "N. A. Semashko National Research Institute of Public Health" of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, Moscow, Russian Federation
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50
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Hardardottir H, Aspelund T, Fall K, Broström E, Sigurdsson BB, Cook E, Valdimarsdottir H, Fang F, Sloan EK, Lutgendorf SK, Jansson C, Valdimarsdottir UA. Psychobiological stress response to a lung cancer diagnosis: a prospective study of patients in Iceland and Sweden. Acta Oncol 2023; 62:1338-1347. [PMID: 37747345 DOI: 10.1080/0284186x.2023.2258445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A diagnostic work-up leading to a lung cancer diagnosis is a severely stressful experience that may impact tumor progression. Yet, prospective data are scarce on psychological and biological components of stress at the time of lung cancer diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess pre-to-post diagnosis change in psychological distress and urinary excretion of catecholamines in patients with suspected lung cancer. METHODS Participants were 167 patients within the LUCASS study, recruited at referral for suspected lung cancer to University Hospitals in Iceland and Sweden. Patients completed questionnaires on perceived distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) before and after diagnosis of lung cancer or a non-malignant origin. A subpopulation of 85 patients also provided overnight urine for catecholamine analysis before and at a median of 24 days after diagnosis but before treatment. RESULTS A lung cancer diagnosis was confirmed in 123 (73.7%) patients, with a mean age of 70.1 years. Patients diagnosed with lung cancer experienced a post-diagnosis increase in psychological distress (p = 0.010), while patients with non-malignant lung pathology showed a reduction in distress (p = 0.070). Both urinary epinephrine (p = 0.001) and norepinephrine (p = 0.032) levels were higher before the diagnosis among patients eventually diagnosed with lung cancer compared to those with non-malignant lung pathology. We observed indications of associations between pre-to-post diagnosis changes in perceived distress and changes in urinary catecholamine levels. CONCLUSION Receiving a lung cancer diagnosis is associated with an increase in psychological distress, while elevated catecholamine levels are evident already before lung cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hronn Hardardottir
- Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Thor Aspelund
- Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Katja Fall
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erika Broström
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Baldur B Sigurdsson
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Elizabeth Cook
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Heiddis Valdimarsdottir
- Department of Psychology, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Fang Fang
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erica K Sloan
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Susan K Lutgendorf
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Christer Jansson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Unnur A Valdimarsdottir
- Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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