Magne Thoresen

Musculoskeletal, visual and psychosocial stress in VDU operators before and after multidisciplinary ergonomic interventions

The study has a parallel group design with two intervention groups (T and S) and one control group (C) of VDU operators. Three serial interventions were carried out in the T and S groups, first a new lighting system, then new workplaces and last an optometric examination and corrections if needed. The new lighting gave significantly increased illuminance levels, increased luminances of the room surfaces and better luminance distribution. The two intervention groups reported significant improvement of the lighting conditions, as well as of the visual conditions and significantly reduced visual discomfort and glare. Significant reduction of headache was found in one of the intervention groups. Optometric corrections reduced the visual discomfort in both the intervention groups. When looking at those given new corrections, a significant reduction was found in the T group and a clear tendency was also found in the S group. The C group reported no improvements for any of these health outcomes. The workplace intervention gave the operator the possibility to support the whole forearm and hand on the table top. Before the intervention there were no significant differences between the three groups regarding shoulder pain and static trapezius electromyographic (EMG) load. Two years after the intervention, a significant reduction of shoulder pain was reported in the T and S groups in parallel with a significant reduction in static trapezius load, while no such reduction was found in the C group. At the same time, both static trapezius load and shoulder pain were significantly lower in the T and S groups compared with the C group. Pain in the forearm and hand showed no significant changes in any of the groups during the study period. However, there seem to be a relationship between pain in the forearm and hand and the time the operator used the mouse. The C group reported significantly higher intensity of pain and used the mouse significantly more than the S group.

Postural load during VDU work: a comparison between various work postures

The aim of this study was to compare the postural load during VDU work in the following work postures: (1) Supporting and not supporting the forearms on the table top, (2) Sitting and standing positions, and (3) Sightline to the centre of the screen at an angle of 15 degrees and 30 degrees below the horizontal. The muscle load from the upper part of musculus trapezius and from the lumbar part of musculus erector spinae (L3 level) was measured by electromyography (EMG). Postural angles of head, upper arm and back were measured by inclinometers. The load on m. trapezius when using the keyboard was significantly less in sitting with supported forearms compared to sitting and standing without forearm support. Further, the time and number of periods when the trapezius load was below 1% MVC was significantly greater with support versus no support. The load on the right erector spinae lumbalis was also significantly less and the time when the load was below 1% MVC was significantly longer in a sitting work position with support versus standing without support. In addition, when using a mouse supporting the forearms reduced the static trapezius load in sitting. The results from this study document clearly the importance of giving the operator the possibility of supporting the forearms on the table top.

Consumption of Soft Drinks and Hyperactivity, Mental Distress, and Conduct Problems Among Adolescents in Oslo, Norway

OBJECTIVES We examined whether high levels of consumption of sugar-containing soft drinks were associated with mental distress, hyperactivity, and conduct problems among adolescents. METHODS A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted with 10th-grade students in Oslo, Norway (n = 5498). We used the Hopkins Symptom Checklist and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to assess mental health outcomes. RESULTS There was a J-shaped dose-response relationship between soft drink consumption and mental distress, conduct problems, and total mental health difficulties score; that is, adolescents who did not consume soft drinks had higher scores (indicating worse symptoms) than those who consumed soft drinks at moderate levels but lower scores than those with high consumption levels. The relationship was linear for hyperactivity. In a logistic regression model, the association between soft drink consumption and mental health problems remained significant after adjustment for behavioral, social, and food-related variables. The highest adjusted odds ratios were observed for conduct problems among boys and girls who consumed 4 or more glasses of sugar-containing soft drinks per day. CONCLUSIONS High consumption levels of sugar-containing soft drinks were associated with mental health problems among adolescents even after adjustment for possible confounders.

Mortality among opiate users: opioid maintenance therapy, age and causes of death

AIMS This study investigates how age of opioid users is related to causes of death prior to, during and after opioid maintenance treatment (OMT), and estimates risks of death from various causes in relation to age. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Data on all opiate dependents in Norway (1997-2003) who applied for and were accepted for OMT (n = 3789) were cross-linked with the Norwegian death register. The total observation time was 10 934 person-years. FINDINGS A total of 213 deaths was recorded. Of these, 73% were subject to autopsy, and causes of death were known for 208 cases: the overall death rate was 1.9%. Deaths were due to drug overdose (54%), somatic (32%) and traumatic causes (14%). Overdose deaths among all age groups were reduced during OMT but age had a differential effect upon risk when out of treatment. Younger opioid users were at greater risk of overdose before entering treatment; older users were at greater risk after leaving treatment. Older OMT patients were at higher risk of both somatic and traumatic deaths, and deaths during OMT were most likely to be due to somatic causes. CONCLUSIONS The high rates of overdose prior to and after treatment emphasize the need to provide rapid access to OMT, to retain patients in treatment and to re-enrol patients. The high prevalence among older patients of deaths due to somatic causes has implications for screening, treatment and referral, and may also lead to increased treatment costs.

Smokers Report More Psoriasis, but Not Atopic Dermatitis or Hand Eczema: Results from a Norwegian Population Survey among Adults

Background: Many reports indicate that skin diseases are affected by lifestyle factors. Objective: To examine the relationship between reported skin diagnoses, smoking and alcohol consumption in an urban population. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based health study among 18,747 adults in Oslo. Results: For current smokers, odds ratio for reporting psoriasis was 1.49 (95% CI 1.11–2.00) for males, and 1.48 (95% CI 1.15–1.91) for females, as compared to never smokers. There was no association between reported atopic dermatitis or hand eczema and smoking. High consumption of cigarettes was associated with an increased reporting of psoriasis in men, but not women. Reporting drinking alcohol 4–7 times per week was crudely associated with reporting psoriasis in men, but not in the adjusted model. Conclusion: Cigarette smoking was associated with reported psoriasis, but not with atopic dermatitis or hand eczema.

Blood cell gene expression associated with cellular stress defense is modulated by antioxidant-rich food in a randomised controlled clinical trial of male smokers

BackgroundPlant-based diets rich in fruit and vegetables can prevent development of several chronic age-related diseases. However, the mechanisms behind this protective effect are not elucidated. We have tested the hypothesis that intake of antioxidant-rich foods can affect groups of genes associated with cellular stress defence in human blood cells. Trial registration number: NCT00520819 http://clinicaltrials.gov.MethodsIn an 8-week dietary intervention study, 102 healthy male smokers were randomised to either a diet rich in various antioxidant-rich foods, a kiwifruit diet (three kiwifruits/d added to the regular diet) or a control group. Blood cell gene expression profiles were obtained from 10 randomly selected individuals of each group. Diet-induced changes on gene expression were compared to controls using a novel application of the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) on transcription profiles obtained using Affymetrix HG-U133-Plus 2.0 whole genome arrays.ResultsChanges were observed in the blood cell gene expression profiles in both intervention groups when compared to the control group. Groups of genes involved in regulation of cellular stress defence, such as DNA repair, apoptosis and hypoxia, were significantly upregulated (GSEA, FDR q-values < 5%) by both diets compared to the control group. Genes with common regulatory motifs for aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and AhR nuclear translocator (AhR/ARNT) were upregulated by both interventions (FDR q-values < 5%). Plasma antioxidant biomarkers (polyphenols/carotenoids) increased in both groups.ConclusionsThe observed changes in the blood cell gene expression profiles suggest that the beneficial effects of a plant-based diet on human health may be mediated through optimization of defence processes.

The effects of intermittent positive pressure ventilation on cerebral arterial and venous blood velocities in the newborn infant

ABSTRACT. Cerebral arterial and venous blood velocities were measured using pulsed Doppler ultrasound in 25 newborn infants requiring intermittant positive pressure ventilation (IPPV). The aim was to investigate whether these velocities altered in relation to the peak inflation pressure (PIP) used. Continous recordings were made on the superior sagittal sinus and an intracranial artery both at the clinically prescribed PIP, and while this was altered in steps. A majority of the infants had, at some stage of their illness, variations in their venous and arterial velocities in phase with IPPV and related to the PIP used. These variations could be reduced by lowering the PIP. This was done in 5 infants whilst we were still able to maintain adequate ventilation.

Three-year follow-up of physical activity in Norwegian youth from two ethnic groups: associations with socio-demographic factors

BackgroundMore research on factors associated with physical activity and the decline in participation during adolescence is needed. In this paper, we investigate the levels, change, and stability of physical activity during the late teens among ethnic Norwegians and ethnic minorities, and we examine the associations between physical activity and socio-demographic factors.MethodsThe baseline (T1) of this longitudinal study included 10th graders who participated in the youth part of the Oslo Health Study, which was carried out in schools in 2000–2001. The follow-up (T2) in 2003–2004 was conducted partly at school and partly by mail. A total of 2489 (1112 boys and 1377 girls) participated both at baseline and at follow-up. Physical activity level was measured by a question on weekly hours of physical activity outside of school. Socio-demographic variables were collected by questionnaire and from data obtained from Statistics Norway. Analysis of variance was used to study the level of and changes (T1 to T2) in physical activity, and the associations between physical activity and socio-demographic factors. Stability in physical activity was defined as the percentage of students reporting the same physical activity both times.ResultsBoys were more active than girls at age 15 and 18 years, independent of ethnic background. Among girls, ethnic Norwegians were more active than ethnic minorities. Hours per week spent on physical activity declined in all groups during the follow-up period. Few associations were found between physical activity and socio-demographic factors in both cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Among the ethnic minority girls, 65% reported being physically active 0–2 hours per week at baseline, and 82% of these girls reported the same level at follow up.ConclusionThe association between physical activity and ethnicity at age 15 years remained the same during the follow-up. Few associations were found between physical activity and socio-demographic variables. A large proportion of ethnic minority girls reported a persistently low physical activity level, and this low participation rate may need special attention.

Lipid treatment goals achieved in patients treated with statin drugs in Norwegian general practice

Statin drug treatment has still not achieved complete acceptance, and titration to recommended target goals is still not used by physicians in Norway.

Dairy consumption and calcium intake and risk of breast cancer in a prospective cohort: The Norwegian Women and Cancer study

ObjectiveTo study the association between consumption of dairy products and calcium intake and risk of breast cancer risk according to menopausal status.MethodsIn a population-based prospective cohort study of 64,904 Norwegian women followed from 1996/1999 through 2006, we examined total dairy consumption and consumption of various dairy products in relation to pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer risk. We also examined breast cancer in relation to calcium intake and to milk consumption during childhood and performed additional analyses corrected for measurement errors in the dietary data. In total, 218 premenopausal and 1,189 postmenopausal incident breast cancer cases were diagnosed during follow-up.ResultsTotal dairy, adult, and childhood milk consumption was not associated with either pre- or postmenopausal breast cancer risk. Premenopausal women with the highest consumption of white cheese had half the risk of breast cancer compared to those with the lowest consumption (hazard rate ratio in the 4th quartile vs. the 1st quartile 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.29–0.87). Total calcium intake tended to be inversely related to premenopausal (hazard rate ratio in the 4th quartile vs. the 1st quartile 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.39–1.08) and postmenopausal breast cancer (hazard rate ratio in the 4th quartile vs. the 1st quartile 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.70–1.04). Correcting for measurement errors did not alter the results substantially, nor did exclusion of early cancer cases.ConclusionDairy consumption is not strongly related to breast cancer risk in this prospective study. A non-significant negative association between calcium intake and breast cancer risk was seen, particularly among premenopausal women.