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SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral immunity in a Norwegian cohort between 2020 and 2023
No full textBackground: We have previously reported on natural humoral immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a Norwegian cohort between 2020 and 2021. In this study, we evaluated long-term humoral (including vaccination-induced) immunity in the same cohort and assessed predictors of high antibody levels against spike protein, as well as the persistence of antibodies against the virus spike and nucleocapsid proteins. Methods: Vaccination data and antibody levels against the spike and nucleocapsid proteins were collected at 12 (only in infected participants) and 24 months (in both infected and uninfected participants) after the participants’ first polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the virus. Antibody levels against spike protein at 24 months were categorized as high or low based on the 50th percentile. Possible predictors of high antibody levels against spike protein were examined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Of 1119 original participants (400 PCR + and 719 PCR −), 574 responded to our questionnaires and were invited to antibody measurements (median age: 51 years; women: 59%). Vaccination data showed that 11% were fully immunized, and 85% were booster-immunized at 24 months. Antibody levels were evaluated in 72% (287/400) of the PCR + participants at 12 months and 58% (233/400) at 24 months. At 12 and 24 months, we observed that 97% (278/287) and 100% (233/233), respectively, still had antibodies against the spike protein, and 86% (248/287) and 95% (221/233), respectively, against the nucleocapsid protein. Antibody levels were also evaluated in 34% (247/719) of those in the PCR − group, which revealed that 99.5% and 69% had detectable antibodies against spike and nucleocapsid proteins, respectively, at 24 months. Irrespective of pre-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection status, the boosterimmunized participants were 3.7 × more likely to have high antibody levels against spike protein vs the non-boosterimmunized ones. Those aged > 60 years had the highest median antibody levels against the spike protein and were more likely to be booster-immunized. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the benefits of booster vaccinations for humoral immune responses. Long-term antibody levels against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were higher in booster-immunized participants vs the nonbooster- immunized, irrespective of pre-vaccination infection status.SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral immunity in a Norwegian cohort between 2020 and 2023publishedVersio
Effects of a lifestyle programme on accelerometer-measured physical activity level and sedentary time on overweight and obese women of Somali background living in Norway
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How do school nurses spend their time? A quantitative time study within Norwegian school health services
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Uptake of chemicals from tire wear particles into aquatic organisms - search for biomarkers of exposure in blue mussels
No full textLittle is known about the exposure of aquatic biota to tire and road wear particles (TRWP) washed away from roads. Mussels were exposed for 7 days to model TRWP (m-TRWP), produced by milling tire tread particles with pure sand, and analyzed for 21 tire-related compounds by liquid chromatography-high resolution-mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Upon exposure to 0.5 g/L of m-TRWP, 15 compounds were determined from 944 μg/kg wet weight (diphenylguanidine, DPG) over 18 μg/kg for an oxidation product of N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6-PPDQ) to 0.6 μg/kg (4-hydroxydiphenyl amine). Transfer into mussels was highest for PTPD, DTPD and 6-PPDQ and orders of magnitude lower for 6-PPD. During 7 days depuration the concentration of all determined chemicals decreased to remaining concentrations between ~50 % (PTPD, DTPD) and 6 % (6-PPD). Suspect and non-target screening found 37 additional transformation products (TPs) of tire additives, many of which did not decrease in concentration during depuration, among them ten likely TPs of DPG, two of 6-PPD and PTPD and two of 1,2-dihydro-2,2,4-trimethylquinoline. A wide variety of chemicals is taken up by mussels upon exposure to m-TRWP and a wide range of TPs is formed, enabling the differentiation of biomarkers of exposure to TRWP and biomarkers of exposure to tire-associated chemicals.Uptake of chemicals from tire wear particles into aquatic organisms - search for biomarkers of exposure in blue musselspublishedVersio
A Systems Perspective on the Drivers of Adoption of the Norwegian School Fruit Scheme
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Microplastic pellets in Arctic marine sediments: a common source or a common process?
Full text linkPlastic consumption is increasing, and millions of tonnes of plastic are released into the oceans every year. Plastic materials are accumulating in the marine environment, especially on the seafloor. The Arctic is contaminated with plastics, including microplastics (MPs, <5 mm) but occurrences, concentrations and fate are largely unknown. This study aimed at assessing whether MPs accumulate at greater water depths in the Barents Sea, and close to the Longyearbyen settlement, and at understanding the ubiquity and source of a specific type of collected pellets. Surface sediments were collected at seven stations around Svalbard with a box-corer, and three replicates were taken at each station. MPs were extracted through density separation with saturated saltwater. Many pellets were found, and their composition was assessed by pyrolysis-GC/MS. Procedural blanks were performed using field blanks as samples to assess the overall contamination. The composition of all extracted particles was then analysed by μRaman spectroscopy. On average, 3.61 ± 1.45 MPs/100 g (dw) were found. The sea ice station, after blank correction, was more contaminated and displaying a different profile than the other stations, and the deepest station did not show the highest MP concentrations but rather the opposite. Sediments close to Longyearbyen were not more contaminated than the other stations either. Dark pellets of similar aspect were found at all stations, raising the question about a possible common source or process. These pellets were made of several plastic polymers which varied in proportion for each pellet, suggesting a common process was at the origin of those pellets, potentially marine snow formationpublishedVersio
In utero exposure to methylphenidate, amphetamines and atomoxetine and offspring neurodevelopmental disorders – a population-based cohort study and meta-analysis
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Working in the Norwegian School Health Services: A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study of School Nurses’ Work Situation
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Influensasesongen 2024-2025 i Norge
No full textLaboratory confirmed influenza started to rise from baseline in late November 2024 and crossed the virological outbreak threshold in week 52. Further growth resumed in week 3/2024 and by week 5 reached a positivity rate of 26.7 % which is the highest since the peak week during the 2017/2018 season. Since week 40/2024, 16,430 infections with influenza A and 4,552 with influenza B have been detected by Norwegian laboratories. Approximately 80% are influenza A, out of which approximately 60 % are subtype H1N1 and 40% H3N2. All 629 investigated influenza B viruses belonged to the Victoria lineage. In age profile analysis of detected cases, the 0–4-year-olds were more than twice more likely to be diagnosed with A(H1N1) than other ages. This age group was also twice as likely to have an A(H3N2) detection. Surprisingly, the elderly were not over-represented among A(H3N2) cases, as they have been in previous years. For influenza B/Victoria, younger age groups, particularly 5–14-year-olds, were much more likely than older persons to be diagnosed, while the elderly were under-represented. This far, 9,4 % (216/2324) of all influenza positive samples received for surveillance have been whole genome sequenced. 81 viruses, representing all significant genetic variants we have seen, have been shared with WHO. Among the A(H1N1) viruses, the 5a.2a clade has been predominant (94 %), with very limited circulation of the 5a.2a.1 clade. 5a.2a clade viruses are spread across several subclades, with C.1.9.3 being most common. A(H3N2) viruses predominantly (97 %) belong to the 2a.3a.1 clade, of which half are subclade J.2.2, followed by J.2 (38 %) and J.2.1 (6 %). All sequenced influenza B viruses have belonged to the B/Victoria V1A.3a.2 clade, with 39 % being subclade C.5.1, 29 % C.3, 16 % C.5.6, and 13 % C.5.7. Seroepidemiological analysis of protective antibody responses against relevant strains of all influenza subtypes indicate that immunity was at a relatively high level in late summer 2024. HAI titres against tested influenza strains belonging to clades 5a.2a.1 of A(H1N1), 2a.3a.1 of A(H3N2), and 3A.2 of B/Victoria increased or remained stable for all age groups collected in 2024, compared to sera collected in 2023. The immunity gap seen in the youngest age group after the COVID-19 pandemic has now been closed. The proportion of influenza-like illness (ILI) began to rise gradually from week 50/2024 and the epidemic threshold was crossed in week 02/2025, two weeks later than crossing the outbreak threshold for per cent test positives. Presently, influenza activity is still increasing and in week 5 1,6 % of the consultations in primary health care were due to influenza-like illness, which is still at low intensity level according to the ILI MEMthresholds. Between 2024-w40 and 2025-w05, 2,582 (46.5 per 100,000 inhabitants) samples positive for influenza virus were reported among hospitalized patients, with the highest incidence among those aged 65-79 and 80+, followed by children under 5 years. Influenza A virus was most common, while influenza B virus to a larger extent affected children. In the same period, 78 (1.4 per 100,000 inhabitants) intensive care admissions with influenza were reported. The vaccine coverage for the age group 65 years and older was 65% per week 5/2025, and the total number of distributed doses in Norway was 1.57 million. This is at the same level as last season. 99 % of the doses were administered before the epidemic threshold was passed. Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) belonging to H5 HA clade 2.3.4.4b and recently mostly subtype H5N5, continued to be detected in wild birds in Norway, but in much lower numbers compared to the summer of 2023 and with fewer outbreaks. Infection with H5N5 has also recently been detected in two euthanized carnivores, a lynx and an otter. No human cases have been detected, and the general risk for human infection is assessed as very low.publishedVersio
