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Rate of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection during an Omicron Wave in Iceland
(2022-08-01) Eythorsson, Elias; Runólfsdóttir, Hrafnhildur L.; Ingvarsson, Ragnar Freyr; Sigurðsson, Martin Ingi; Pálsson, Runólfur; Faculty of Medicine
This cohort study estimates the proportion of persons who became reinfected with SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron wave in Iceland.
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Mouse microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) mutations affect the structure of the retinal vasculature
(2022-03-29) Daníelsson, Stefán Broddi; García-Llorca, Andrea; Reynisson, Hallur; Eysteinsson, Thor; Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery; Faculty of Medicine
Purpose: Mice carrying pathogenic variants in the microphthalmia transcription factor (Mitf) gene show structural and functional changes in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium. The purpose of this study was to assess the vascular changes in Mitf mice carrying pathogenic variants by determining their retinal vessel diameter. Methods: Mice examined in this study were: B6-Mitfmi-vga9/+ (n = 6), B6-Mitfmi-enu22(398) /Mitfmi-enu22(398) (n = 6) and C57BL/6J wild type mice (n = 6), all 3 months old. Fundus images were taken with a Micron IV camera after intraperitoneal injection of fluorescein salt. Images were adjusted to enhance contrast and a custom written MATLAB program used to extract the mean vascular diameter at a pre-defined distance from the optic disc. The number of vessels, mean diameter and mean total diameter were examined. Results: The mean diameter of retinal veins in Mitfmi-enu22(398)/Mitfmi-enu22(398) mice was 18.8% larger than in wild type (p = 0.026). No differences in the mean diameter of the retinal arteries were found between the genotypes. Mitfmi-enu22(398)/Mitfmi-enu22(398) mice have 17.2% more retinal arteries (p = 0.026), and 15.6% more retinal veins (p = 0.041) than wild type. A 24.8% increase was observed in the mean combined arterial diameter in mice with the Mitfmi-enu22(398)/Mitfmi-enu22(398) compared to wild type mice (p = 0.024). A 38.6% increase was found in the mean combined venular diameter in mice with the Mitfmi-enu22(398)/Mitfmi-enu22(398) pathogenic variation as compared to wild type (p = 0.004). The mean combined retinal venular diameter in the Mitfmi-vga9/+ mice was 17.8% larger than in wild type (p = 0.03). Conclusion: An increase in vascularization of the retina in Mitfmi-enu22(398) /Mitfmi-enu22(398) mice was found, indicating an increased demand for blood flow to the retina.
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Hospital and homecare nurses' experiences of involvement of patients and families in transition between hospital and municipalities : A qualitative study
(2022-11-09) Petersen, Julie Jacoby; Østergaard, Birte; Svavarsdóttir, Erla Kolbrún; Palonen, Mira; Brødsgaard, Anne; Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery
Background: Involving patients and families in nursing care is essential to improve patients' health outcomes. Furthermore, families play an essential role in supporting patients by helping nurses understand the patient's everyday life. However, families also need support. Involvement of patients and families is especially important when patients are transferred between hospital and home as transitions heighten the risk of compromising quality and safety in care. However, no consensus exists on how to involve them. Consequently, this may challenge a systematic approach toward patient and family involvement. Aim: To describe hospital and homecare nurses' experiences with involving patients and their family members in nursing care in the transition between hospital and municipalities. Method: Focus group interviews were conducted in the Gastro unit at a large university hospital in Denmark. Participants included 10 hospital nurses from three wards at the Gastro unit and six homecare nurses from one of three municipalities in the hospital catchment area (total n = 16). Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The study is reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Findings: Our analysis revealed one overall theme – “The complexity of involvement” – based on four categories: gap between healthcare sectors increases the need for patient and family involvement, lack of time is a barrier to patient and family involvement, involvement is more than information, and involvement as a balancing act. Conclusion: The nurses experienced patients' and families' involvement as essential, but a discrepancy was found between nurses' intentions and their actions. Aspects related to a gap between healthcare sectors and various understandings of involvement challenged the systematic involvement of patients and families in the transition between healthcare sectors. However, the nurses were highly motivated to achieve a close cross-sectoral collaboration and to show commitment towards patients and families.
Verk
Stofnunareðli framhaldsskóla í faraldurskreppu : Ný reynsla og breytt umboð skólastjórnenda
(2022-12-14) Ragnarsdóttir, Guðrún; Jónasson, Jón Torfi; Deild kennslu- og menntunarfræði; Menntavísindasvið
Á vormánuðum 2020 hóf COVID-19 innreið sína. Í kjölfarið var öll staðbundin kennsla í framhaldsskólum færð í fjarkennslu út vorönnina og um haustið breyttist fyrirkomulag skólastarfs ítrekað í takt við síbreytilegar sóttvarnareglur. Markmið þessarar rannsóknar er að öðlast skilning á verkefnum og aðstæðum skólastjórnenda, skólameistara og aðstoðarskólameistara, og samskiptum þeirra við ýmsa hagaðila úr ytra og innra umhverfi framhaldsskólanna á fyrsta ári faraldursins. Jafnframt er leitast við að skoða hvernig niðurstöðurnar speglast í nýstofnanakenningum (e. neo-institutional theories). Leitað var eftir reynslu skólastjórnenda við mjög breyttar aðstæður og breytt umboð þeirra til aðgerða. Byggt var á blandaðri rannsóknaraðferð. Stuðst var við gögn úr tveimur spurningalistakönnunum frá Menntavísindastofnun sem náði til framhaldsskólastigsins alls og sex viðtöl við skólameistara og aðstoðarskólameistara úr þremur framhaldsskólum. Vissir þættir starfsins losnuðu úr viðjum stofnanaramma framhaldsskólans, afstofnanavæddust (e. deinstitutionalised) og breyttust mikið í faraldrinum á meðan áherslur aðila úr ytra umhverfi skóla styrktu stofnanaumgjörð skólanna og drógu úr umboði skólastjórnenda til áhrifa. Rannsóknin staðfestir fyrri niðurstöður um að í sumum tilvikum sé eðlilegt að túlka viðbrögð skólastjórnenda sem viðbrögð stjórnenda skipulagsheilda (e. organizational leadership) og í öðrum tilfellum sem stjórnenda stofnana (e. institutional leadership). Samskiptaform milli ólíkra aðila breyttust og verkefni og verkaskipting þróuðust eftir því sem á leið. Samhliða auknu ákalli kennara um kennslufræðilegan stuðning tóku stjórnendur forystu um vissa tæknilega þætti. Þeir fóru þó ekki út fyrir það umboð sem þeir töldu sig hafa og virtu faglegt sjálfstæði kennara. Mikið álag var á skólastjórnendum og gjá myndaðist á milli starfsfólks að mati viðmælenda, einkum í upphafi faraldursins, sem aftur ýtti undir einangrun í starfi skólastjórnenda. Niðurstöðurnar vekja athygli á eðli skóla sem stofnana annars vegar og skipulagsheilda hins vegar og vekja upp áleitnar spurningar, m.a. um álag, verkaskiptingu og umboð stjórnenda til aðgerða. Þá dregur rannsóknin fram veikleika í samskiptum á milli ólíkra hópa í faraldrinum.
Verk
Unique profile of academic learning difficulties in Wiedemann–Steiner syndrome
(2023-02) Ng, R.; Björnsson, Hans Tómas; Fahrner, Jill A.; Harris, Jacqueline R.; Faculty of Medicine
BACKGROUND: Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by heterozygous variants in KMT2A. To date, the cognitive profile associated with WSS remains largely unknown, although emergent case series implicate increased risk of non-verbal reasoning and visual processing deficits. This study examines the academic and learning concerns associated with WSS based on a parent-report screening measure. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A total of 25 parents of children/adults with a molecularly-confirmed diagnosis of WSS (mean age = 12.85 years, SD = 7.82) completed the Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire (CLDQ), a parent-screening measure of learning and academic difficulties. Parent ratings were compared to those from a normative community sample to determine focal areas in Math, Reading and Spatial skills that may be weaker within this clinical population. RESULTS: On average, parent ratings on the Math (mean Z = -3.08, SD = 0.87) and Spatial scales (mean Z = -2.52, SD = 0.85) were significantly more elevated than that of Reading (mean Z = -1.31, SD = 1.46) (Wilcoxon sign rank test Z < -3.83, P < 0.001), reflecting relatively more challenges observed in these areas. Distribution of parent ratings in Math items largely reflect a positively skewed distribution with most endorsing over three standard deviations below a community sample. In contrast, distributions of parent ratings in Reading and Spatial domains were more symmetric but flat. Ratings for Reading items yielded much larger variance than the other two domains, reflecting a wider range of performance variability. CONCLUSIONS: Parent ratings on the CLDQ suggest more difficulties with Math and Spatial skills among those with WSS within group and relative to a community sample. Study results are consistent with recent case reports on the neuropsychological profile associated with WSS and with Kabuki syndrome, which is caused by variants in the related gene KMT2D. Findings lend support for overlapping cognitive patterns across syndromes, implicating potential common disease pathogenesis.