Exercise and obstructive sleep apnoea: a 24-week follow-up study.

Objective: Report on long-term follow-up results in the apnoea hypopnea index (AHI) and self-reported daytime sleepiness in participants with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea at 12 weeks after completion of a high-intensity exercise training or control intervention. Methods: Twenty-six participants with obstructive sleep apnoea (body mass index (BMI) 37 (36-39) kg/m, age 52 (49-55) years, apnoea-hypopnoea index 40.5 (31.3-50.2) events/hour), randomised to either 12 weeks of supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (4×4 min of treadmill running or walking at 90%-95% of maximal heart rate) or no intervention (control), underwent a sleep evaluation follow-up 24 weeks after intervention initiation. Respiratory measures during sleep were registered at baseline, 12 weeks (postintervention) and 24 weeks (long-term follow-up). Results: At the 24-week follow-up, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the AHI (HIIT 30.7 (17.2-44.1) and control 38.7 (22.8-54.5) events/hour), Epworth score (HIIT 7.0 (4.7-9.3) and control 5.5 (3.9-7.0)), mean oxygen saturation (HIIT 93.2 (92.5-93.9) and control 92.0 (91.1-92.8)) or oxygen desaturation events (HIIT 32.9 (20.4-45.4) and control 44.3 (27.3-61.3) n/hour). BMI remained unchanged from the baseline in both groups. In the HIIT group, only two participants reported having continued with HIIT at 24 weeks. Conclusion: The effect of 12 weeks of supervised high-intensity exercise training on AHI and self-reported daytime sleepiness was lost at the 24-week follow-up.

Screening and treatment of latent tuberculosis in a cohort of asylum seekers in Norway.

AIMS: Asylum seekers are screened for tuberculosis at entry to Norway. We aimed to assess follow-up of screening results at different healthcare levels in relation to demographics, screening results and organizational factors, and how this influenced treatment of latent tuberculosis. METHODS: All asylum seekers >or=18 years with a Mantoux test >or=6 mm or positive x-ray findings who arrived at the National Reception Centre from January 2005 to June 2006, were included. Data were collected from public health authorities in the municipality where the asylum seekers had moved, and from internists in case they had been referred to a specialist. Specialists are responsible for treating latent tuberculosis. Individual subjects were matched with the National Tuberculosis Register to which everybody who had started treatment for latent tuberculosis was reported. RESULTS: Of 4,643 asylum seekers, 2,237 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. By May 2008, 30 persons had started treatment for latent TB, a median of 17 months (range 3-36) after arrival. A Mantoux test >or=15 mm on arrival was significantly associated with treatment. Demographic factors influenced follow-up in primary healthcare while screening results did not. Referral to specialist was related to screening results. Several specialists were reluctant to diagnose and treat latent tuberculosis and to treat persons without a permanent visa in particular. CONCLUSIONS: Just 1% of the study group received treatment for latent tuberculosis and with a long time delay. The reason for this may be organizational factors affecting follow-up and referral and specialists not following current guidelines.

The role of entry screening in case finding of tuberculosis among asylum seekers in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Most new cases of active tuberculosis in Norway are presently caused by imported strains and not transmission within the country. Screening for tuberculosis with a Mantoux test of everybody and a chest X-ray of those above 15 years of age is compulsory on arrival for asylum seekers.We aimed to assess the effectiveness of entry screening of a cohort of asylum seekers. Cases detected by screening were compared with cases detected later. Further we have characterized cases with active tuberculosis. METHODS: All asylum seekers who arrived at the National Reception Centre between January 2005--June 2006 with an abnormal chest X-ray or a Mantoux test ≥ 6 mm were included in the study and followed through the health care system. They were matched with the National Tuberculosis Register by the end of May 2008.Cases reported within two months after arrival were defined as being detected by screening. RESULTS: Of 4643 eligible asylum seekers, 2237 were included in the study. Altogether 2077 persons had a Mantoux ≥ 6 mm and 314 had an abnormal chest X-ray. Of 28 cases with tuberculosis, 15 were detected by screening, and 13 at 4-27 months after arrival. Abnormal X-rays on arrival were more prevalent among those detected by screening. Female gender and Somalian origin increased the risk for active TB. CONCLUSION: In spite of an imperfect follow-up of screening results, a reasonable number of TB cases was identified by the programme, with a predominance of pulmonary TB.

Effect of exercise training for five years on all cause mortality in older adults-the Generation 100 study: randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of five years of supervised exercise training compared with recommendations for physical activity on mortality in older adults (70-77 years). DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: General population of older adults in Trondheim, Norway. PARTICIPANTS: 1567 of 6966 individuals born between 1936 and 1942. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomised to two sessions weekly of high intensity interval training at about 90% of peak heart rate (HIIT, n=400), moderate intensity continuous training at about 70% of peak heart rate (MICT, n=387), or to follow the national guidelines for physical activity (n=780; control group); all for five years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: All cause mortality. An exploratory hypothesis was that HIIT lowers mortality more than MICT. RESULTS: Mean age of the 1567 participants (790 women) was 72.8 (SD 2.1) years. Overall, 87.5% of participants reported to have overall good health, with 80% reporting medium or high physical activity levels at baseline. All cause mortality did not differ between the control group and combined MICT and HIIT group. When MICT and HIIT were analysed separately, with the control group as reference (observed mortality of 4.7%), an absolute risk reduction of 1.7 percentage points was observed after HIIT (hazard ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 1.20) and an absolute increased risk of 1.2 percentage points after MICT (1.24, 0.73 to 2.10). When HIIT was compared with MICT as reference group an absolute risk reduction of 2.9 percentage points was observed (0.51, 0.25 to 1.02) for all cause mortality. Control participants chose to perform more of their physical activity as HIIT than the physical activity undertaken by participants in the MICT group. This meant that the controls achieved an exercise dose at an intensity between the MICT and HIIT groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that combined MICT and HIIT has no effect on all cause mortality compared with recommended physical activity levels. However, we observed a lower all cause mortality trend after HIIT compared with controls and MICT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01666340.

Tuberculosis screening and follow-up of asylum seekers in Norway: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: About 80% of new tuberculosis cases in Norway occur among immigrants from high incidence countries. On arrival to the country all asylum seekers are screened with Mantoux test and chest x-ray aimed to identify cases of active tuberculosis and, in the case of latent tuberculosis, to offer follow-up or prophylactic treatment.We assessed a national programme for screening, treatment and follow-up of tuberculosis infection and disease in a cohort of asylum seekers. METHODS: Asylum seekers >or= 18 years who arrived at the National Reception Centre from January 2005 to June 2006, were included as the total cohort. Those with a Mantoux test >or= 6 mm or positive x-ray findings were included in a study group for follow-up.Data were collected from public health authorities in the municipality to where the asylum seekers had moved, and from hospital based internists in case they had been referred to specialist care.Individual subjects included in the study group were matched with the Norwegian National Tuberculosis Register which receive reports of everybody diagnosed with active tuberculosis, or who had started treatment for latent tuberculosis. RESULTS: The total cohort included 4643 adult asylum seekers and 97.5% had a valid Mantoux test. At least one inclusion criterion was fulfilled by 2237 persons. By end 2007 municipal public health authorities had assessed 758 (34%) of them. Altogether 328 persons had been seen by an internist. Of 314 individuals with positive x-rays, 194 (62%) had seen an internist, while 86 of 568 with Mantoux >or= 15, but negative x-rays (16%) were also seen by an internist. By December 31st 2006, 23 patients were diagnosed with tuberculosis (prevalence 1028/100 000) and another 11 were treated for latent infection. CONCLUSION: The coverage of screening was satisfactory, but fewer subjects than could have been expected from the national guidelines were followed up in the community and referred to an internist. To improve follow-up of screening results, a simplification of organisation and guidelines, introduction of quality assurance systems, and better coordination between authorities and between different levels of health care are all required.

Continuous monitoring of the bronchial epithelial lining fluid by microdialysis.

BACKGROUND: Contents of the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of the bronchi are of central interest in lung diseases, acute lung injury and pharmacology. The most commonly used technique broncheoalveolar lavage is invasive and may cause lung injury. Microdialysis (MD) is a method for continuous sampling of extracellular molecules in the immediate surroundings of the catheter. Urea is used as an endogenous marker of dilution in samples collected from the ELF. The aim of this study was to evaluate bronchial MD as a continuous monitor of the ELF. METHODS: Microdialysis catheters were introduced into the right main stem bronchus and into the right subclavian artery of five anesthetized and normoventilated pigs. The flowrate was 2 mul/min and the sampling interval was 60 minutes. Lactate and fluorescein-isothiocyanate-dextran 4 kDa (FD-4) infusions were performed to obtain two levels of steady-state concentrations in blood. Accuracy was defined as [bronchial-MD] divided by [arterial-MD] in percent. Data presented as mean +/- 95 percent confidence interval. RESULTS: The accuracy of bronchial MD was calculated with and without correction by the arteriobronchial urea gradient. The arteriobronchial lactate gradient was 1.2 +/- 0.1 and FD-4 gradient was 4.0 +/- 1.2. Accuracy of bronchial MD with a continuous lactate infusion was mean 25.5% (range 5.7-59.6%) with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 62.6%. With correction by the arteriobronchial urea gradient accuracy was mean 79.0% (57.3-108.1%) with a CV of 17.0%. CONCLUSION: Urea as a marker of catheter functioning enhances bronchial MD and makes it useful for monitoring substantial changes in the composition of the ELF.

Octreotide treatment for paraneoplastic intestinal pseudo-obstruction complicating SCLC.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is often associated with paraneoplastic neurological syndromes like intestinal pseudo-obstruction. This syndrome is characterized by dysmotility of the bowel without mechanical obstruction. The pathogenesis of the syndrome is thought to involve autoimmune mechanisms with production of antineuronal antibodies and enteric neuronal degeneration. We report a patient with severe constipation as a clinical presentation of a paraneoplastic intestinal pseudo-obstruction complicating SCLC, who was successfully treated with the somatostatin analogue octreotide. This may be explained by effects of hormone-like substances from the tumor directly inhibiting the gut motility, rather than by autoimmune mechanisms.