PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

T Riise

Publications and source records attributed to T Riise.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Quality of life as a predictor for change in disability in MS.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of quality of life on changes in disability measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). BACKGROUND: There are few good prognostic factors for disease development in MS. Quality of life and self-rated health have been shown to be highly predictive of morbidity and disease development in heart disease and cancer. METHODS: Data on quality of life (SF-36 Health Survey) were ascertained at baseline for 97 relapsing-remitting patients with MS participating in a short-term clinical trial on interferon alpha-2a. These scores were correlated with change in EDSS scores 1 year later, 6 months after treatment ended. RESULTS: Low scores on the SF-36 mental health scale were correlated with increased (worsened) EDSS scores 1 year later (r = -0.29, p = 0.006). The results were not altered by adjusting for disease activity at baseline, which was measured by the number gadolinium-enhanced MRI lesions, relapse rate for the preceding 2 years, and baseline EDSS score. Similar results were found for self-rated health (according to the first question of the SF-36). CONCLUSIONS: These findings reinforce the importance of incorporating the patients' evaluation of their quality of life during treatment. Further, assessing such measures is important in evaluating effects in treatment trials in MS.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Heavy metals in human primary teeth: some factors influencing the metal concentrations.

Human primary teeth have been used as indicators of heavy metal exposure for several decades, but the knowledge about the influence of factors such as tooth type and the presence of caries and roots on metal concentrations is limited. Samples of tooth powder from more than 1200 Norwegian primary teeth without fillings have been analyzed for lead, zinc and cadmium content, and 554 of them for mercury. The material represents all groups of tooth types (incisors, canines and molars), carious and non-carious teeth, and teeth with and without roots. Here we investigate how tooth group and the presence of caries and roots are related to metal concentrations in the teeth. We find that carious teeth have higher metal concentrations than non-carious teeth; the difference was statistically significant for lead, mercury and zinc. Teeth with roots have higher lead and zinc concentrations than teeth without roots. We find differences in metal concentrations between the tooth groups for lead, mercury and zinc. Significant, positive correlations are found between lead and the three other metals and between mercury and zinc. We conclude that metal concentrations in primary teeth are affected by the presence of caries and roots and by tooth group.

Cuspid↗
PubMed2000

Compensation for occupational injury and disease in Norway: ranking of job groups.

The health risk of various job groups in Norway was estimated by ranking them according to the annual occupational insurance costs per capita. This was done by dividing the costs of work-related injury and disease from 1991 to 1996 in various job groups by the number of workers in these groups. Occupational groups were also ranked according to total annual costs. The five occupational groups with the highest total costs were metalworkers, woodworkers, nursing-related workers, fisheries workers, and teachers. The groups with the highest annual cost per worker were shoe and leather workers, oil and gas extractors, fisheries workers, miners and quarry workers, and ship's officers. Fisheries workers and ship's officers were ranked among the top 10 positions on both lists and deserve priority in preventive measures.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2000

Incidence and prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the county of Troms, northern Norway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the population incidence and prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in persons above the age of 20 in the county of Troms, northern Norway, during the period 1987-1996. METHODS: All records of patients with RA registered at the Department of Rheumatology at the University Hospital of Tromsø during the years 1987 to 1996 were reviewed. The diagnosis of RA was set in accordance with the 1987 American Rheumatism Association criteria, and the population data were based on the 1989 and 1994 census. Total and age-specific incidence rates were calculated as number of new cases per 100,000 inhabitants and year. Age adjusted incidence rates were obtained by the direct method. Prevalence rates of RA for January 1, 1989, and January 1, 1994, were estimated. RESULTS: The total annual incidence rate for the period 1987-1996 was 28.7/100,000 per year (36.0/100,000 in women and 21.4/100,000 in men). No significant difference in incidence rates was found between the periods 1987-1991 and 1992-1996. Total prevalence of RA was 0.39% in 1989 and 0.47% in 1994. The corresponding data for women and men were 0.54% and 0.24% in 1989, and 0.63% and 0.30% in 1994, respectively. CONCLUSION: We found a rather low incidence and prevalence of RA in the county of Troms in northern Norway. Females contracted RA significantly more often than males. There was no change in incidence rates during the observation period, lending no support to suggestions of a continuously decreasing occurrence of RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Quality of life in multiple sclerosis: measuring the disease effects more broadly.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and self-rated quality of life scores (SF-36 Health Survey) as measures of disease impact in a representative sample of MS patients. BACKGROUND: The EDSS is the most common outcome measure of impairment/disability for MS patients but is heavily weighted toward mobility. Sensitive outcome measures are needed that also capture other aspects of the effects of MS. METHODS: The authors performed a cross-sectional study of the cohort of all individuals with onset of MS between 1976 and 1986 who were diagnosed before 1995 in Hordaland County, Norway. A total of 194 patients (94%) participated. RESULTS: The patients had lower mean scores for all eight SF-36 health dimensions compared with sex- and age-adjusted scores in a general population. EDSS scores correlated highly with physical functioning (r = -0.86, R2 = 0.73), and explained some of the variation in social functioning (r = -0.48, R2 = 0.23) and general health (r = -0.46, R2 = 0.21) but little for the other dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: The SF-36 captures the broad effects of MS, and the results showed that patients also are bothered frequently with health problems such as bodily pain and low vitality. These problems, which are not reflected in the Expanded Disability Status Scale, should be given more attention in the treatment of MS and when evaluating interventions.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Interferon-alpha2a reduces MRI disease activity in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Norwegian Study Group on Interferon-alpha in Multiple Sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of interferon-alpha2a (IFN-alpha2a) in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). BACKGROUND: Several immune-modulating therapy regimens of IFN-alpha have shown varying results in MS. A recent pilot study suggested benefits from IFN-alpha2a. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients were randomized to receive subcutaneous injections of placebo (33 patients) or 4.5 million international units (mIU) (32 patients) or 9.0 mIU (32 patients) of IFN-alpha2a three times weekly for 6 months, with a further 6 months of follow-up. Monthly gadodiamide-enhanced MRI was the primary method of evaluating efficacy. RESULTS: IFN-alpha2a treatment resulted in fewer new MRI lesions during the treatment period (p < 0.003). The probability of no new lesions during treatment was >2.5 times higher with 9.0 mIU IFN-alpha2a than with placebo (p < 0.005). The median number of lesions at the end of treatment was lower with IFN-alpha2a treatment than with placebo (p = 0.0004), but the difference disappeared during follow-up. The total number of lesions (mean) increased by 4.78 with placebo, 0.86 with 4.5 mIU IFN-alpha2a, and 0.28 with 9.0 mIU IFN-alpha2a during treatment (p = 0.030). No treatment effect on exacerbation rate, progression of disability, or quality of life was detected. Nine patients discontinued treatment, five because of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-alpha2a treatment significantly reduced disease activity as measured by MRI, but the efficacy disappeared within 6 months after discontinuation of treatment. A long-term study of more patients using disability as a primary outcome measure is needed to evaluate the clinical impact.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Zinc in primary teeth from children in Norway.

Human primary teeth have been used as indicators of exposure to several heavy metals both in Norway and elsewhere. Local dentists in all 19 counties of Norway collected 2747 primary teeth during 1990-1994. Samples of tooth powder from whole, ground teeth were analyzed for zinc concentration by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The overall geometrical mean was 144.5 micrograms of Zn/g of tooth substance (S.D. = 1.6). The result represents a small increase (5.2%) compared with a similar investigation in the 1970s. However, the mean zinc concentrations in the geographically matching parts of the two materials did not differ significantly. The variation in tooth zinc concentrations between the different counties declined from the 1970s to the 1990s. We found no correlation between the tooth zinc concentration and available environmental data on zinc in drinking-water, discharge of zinc from industrial point sources or population density in the same geographical areas. The zinc concentrations varied significantly with caries status, tooth type and root length. Few samples had a zinc concentration below 90 micrograms/g, indicating that most children consume sufficient zinc. Some very high values could not immediately be explained, but may be caused by contamination from zinc-containing dental restorations.

Child↗
PubMed1999

Influence of paternal exposure to oil and oil products on time to pregnancy and spontaneous abortions.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of exposure to oil and oil products among men on the time taken for their wives to conceive and on the incidence of spontaneous abortion among them. A cross-sectional study was performed by posting questionnaires to 1,269 men employed as offshore mechanics, offshore operators, offshore drilling personnel, car mechanics (the 'exposed' occupations) and carpenters ('unexposed'). The married men were asked to give a separate questionnaire to their wives for details about their pregnancies. The time elapsed between the beginning of coitus without contraception and the wife becoming pregnant (time to pregnancy) was analyzed with Cox regression analysis by calculating fecundability ratios for the pregnancies for the men exposed to oil and oil products as compared with the men who were not exposed. Spontaneous abortions were analyzed with logistic regression by calculating odds ratios for the pregnancies in which the men were exposed vs. not exposed. A total of 741 (58%) men returned the questionnaires. A total of 301 pregnancies were analyzed for time taken to conceive and 580 for spontaneous abortion. The results were adjusted for variables that could significantly influence conception time (previous infections of the reproductive system and coffee drinking) or the incidence of spontaneous abortion (mother's age, parity and smoking). The outcomes between the exposed and unexposed pregnancies showed no significant differences. Car mechanics had a lower fecundability ratio before 1992 than after 1992. Paternal exposure to hydrocarbons in the occupations studied did not seem to have had a major influence on time to conception or the incidence of spontaneous abortion among the wives of the men exposed to oil products.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1999

Occupational injuries reported to insurance companies in Norway from 1991 to 1996.

Occupational injuries represent a relatively high proportion of the total number of injuries in Norway and thereby deserve more attention than they are currently receiving. Occupational injury claims made to insurance companies in Norway from 1991 to 1996 were analyzed for determination of their patterns. The types of injury with the highest incidence rates among men were fractures; among women, the highest rates were for those for sprains. The injury rates were more than twice as high in young men as in young women; this difference declined with increasing age. Young men had an increased risk of finger injuries, compared with older age groups. The injury rates increased with increasing age, especially for fractures and contusions. A somewhat higher number of injuries per working day occurred in January and February than in the other months. Action should be taken to prevent fractures and contusions among older workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Type I interferons and the quality of life of multiple sclerosis patients. Results from a clinical trial on interferon alfa-2a.

The objective of the study was to examine whether the beneficial effect of treatment of interferon alfa-2a on multiple sclerosis seen by magnetic resonance imaging is reflected in a corresponding improvement in the quality of life (QoL) and to address the impact of adverse events related to this treatment on the QoL. The study was a randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled treatment trial including 97 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Thirty-two patients received 4.5 MIU recombinant interferon alfa-2a, 32 patients received 9.0 MIU recombinant interferon alfa-2a and 33 patients received placebo treatment for 6 months. All patients were followed up 6 months after end of treatment. QoL was assessed according to the eight scales of the SF-36 Health Survey and measured at baseline, month 3, 6 and 12. The effect found on MRI was not reflected in a corresponding change in the QoL. We found a relationship between the presence of new enhancing lesions and reduced QoL among the placebo patients, whereas this was not found among the patients treated with interferon. The presence of the adverse events fatigue, myalgia, headache and weakness were significantly negatively correlated to several of the QoL dimensions. Conclusively, the treatment with interferon alfa-2a does not seem to improve the patients' QoL after 6 months of treatment, in spite of a marked effect measured by MRI. The treatment is followed by adverse events that negatively affected the QoL.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Altered antibody pattern to Epstein-Barr virus but not to other herpesviruses in multiple sclerosis: a population based case-control study from western Norway.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of anti-EBV antibodies was studied in a group of 144 patients with multiple sclerosis and 170 age, sex, and area matched controls from the county of Hordaland, western Norway. The prevalence of three other herpesviruses, herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV), were also included. METHODS: Antibodies to various virus antigens were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunfluorescence (IIF) in serum samples from 144 patients with multiple sclerosis and 170 controls. RESULTS: All of the 144 patients with multiple sclerosis had IgG antibodies to EBV compared with 162 of 170 controls (p=0.008). The frequency of IgG antibodies to EBV capsid antigen (VCA), nuclear antigen (EBNA), and early antigen (EA) was significantly higher in patients with multiple sclerosis compared with the controls (p<0.000001, p=0.01, and p<0.0001 respectively). The presence of antibodies was independent of the initial course of the disease and the disease activity at the time of blood sampling. The prevalence of IgG antibodies to HSV, CMV, and VZV did not differ between cases and controls. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a role for EBV in the aetiology of multiple sclerosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Lead in primary teeth from Norway: changes in lead levels from the 1970s to the 1990s.

Lead is one of the most important and widely distributed pollutants in the environment. In the human population children are particularly at risk. Local dentists in all 19 counties in Norway collected 2746 primary teeth from 1990 to 1994. Tooth substance from whole, ground teeth were analyzed for lead concentration by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The geometrical mean for the entire material was 1.27 micrograms lead/g tooth substance (S.D. 1.87). The mean lead levels in each of the counties were significantly lower than those obtained in a corresponding study in the 1970s. Two counties, Oslo and Vest-Agder, had significantly higher lead levels than the majority of the other counties. Tooth lead concentration and atmospheric deposition of lead in the same areas were significantly and positively correlated, as shown by analysis of naturally growing moss. We conclude that lead concentrations in primary teeth from children in Norway have been reduced by approx. 50% from the 1970s to the 1990s. The reduction probably reflects a decrease in the environmental lead burden in Norway.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1997

Risk of cancer and exposure to gasoline vapors.

Until the introduction of self-service around 1970, service station workers in the Nordic countries were exposed to gasoline vapors. Based on measurements reported in the literature, the 8-hour time-weighted average benzene exposure was estimated to be in the range of 0.5-1 mg/m3. We studied the cancer incidence in a cohort of 19,000 service station workers from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. They were identified from the 1970 censuses and followed through 20 years, where 1,300 incident cancers were observed. National incidence rates were used for comparison. The incidence was not increased for leukemia (observed = 28, standardized incidence ratio (SIR) = 0.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6-1.3) not for acute myeloid leukemia (observed = 13, SIR = 1.3, 95% CI 0.7-2.1). The incidence was slightly elevated for kidney cancer observed = 57, SIR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7) and for pharyngeal, laryngeal, and lung cancer. A 3.5-fold risk of nasal cancer was found (observed = 12, SIR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.8-6.1). This cohort exposed to gasoline vapors with benzene levels estimated to be 0.5-1 mg/m3 showed no excess risk of leukemia or acute myeloid leukemia, a 30% elevated risk of kidney cancer, and a previously unnoticed risk of nasal cancer.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1997

Rheumatoid arthritis: a commonly misused diagnosis by the general population.

The purpose of this study was to explore what a young general population include when they answer questions concerning the diagnosis rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Altogether 14,420 subjects answered questionnaires concerning disease history, living habits and musculoskeletal pain. They were also asked specifically if they, or any close relative, had RA. One hundred and sixteen (1.6%) men and 115 (1.6%) women reported that they had the disease. Altogether 14 (12%) men and 23 (20%) women of those answering "yes" to the RA question, were found to have the disease verified according to their hospital records. Fifty-five (25%) of the subjects who reported to have RA, were classified in their hospital records as having other defined rheumatic diseases. Our study indicates that when the general population refers to the diagnosis of RA, they include most defined rheumatic diseases as well as unspecified arthralgia. We find it interesting that such a substantial number of young people report they have this serious disease. We therefore recommend that other measures should be used or used in addition to mailed questionnaires when exploring the prevalence of RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Multiple sclerosis in India: a case-control study of environmental exposures.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the rate of prior environmental exposures between Indian multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and controls in order to identify potential disease triggering factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A standard self-administered questionnaire regarding prior exposures was presented to 56 Indian MS patients and 147 other neural disease and healthy controls at two large medical centers in India. RESULTS: The rate of prior foreign travel, surgeries, blood transfusions, clinical chicken pox and mumps infections and exposure to cats and farm animals was not significantly different between MS patients and controls. However, clinical measles infection and dog exposure occurred significantly more often in the MS patients. CONCLUSION: These findings are consistent with but do not prove an association between prior measles infection, dog exposure and MS.

Adult↗