Textural properties of raw Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets from different origin were studied on different locations of the fillets. Three instrumental methods were applied for evaluation of textural properties. Two methods were based on puncture tests, using flat-ended cylinder or spherical probes measuring the hardness of the fillet. The third method was based on cutting the fillet with a blade and measuring the shear force. Hardness and shear force increased from head to tail, and the location below the dorsal fin was found to be most reliable. The shear force method was found to be more sensitive than the puncture methods and best suited for practical application.

EUSOBI and 30 national breast radiology bodies support mammography for population-based screening, demonstrated to reduce breast cancer (BC) mortality and treatment impact. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the reduction in mortality is 40 % for women aged 50–69 years taking up the invitation while the probability of false-positive needle biopsy is <1 % per round and overdiagnosis is only 1–10 % for a 20-year screening. Mortality reduction was also observed for the age groups 40–49 years and 70–74 years, although with “limited evidence”. Thus, we firstly recommend biennial screening mammography for average-risk women aged 50–69 years; extension up to 73 or 75 years, biennially, is a second priority, from 40–45 to 49 years, annually, a third priority. Screening with thermography or other optical tools as alternatives to mammography is discouraged. Preference should be given to population screening programmes on a territorial basis, with double reading. Adoption of digital mammography (not film-screen or phosphor-plate computer radiography) is a priority, which also improves sensitivity in dense breasts. Radiologists qualified as screening readers should be involved in programmes. Digital breast tomosynthesis is also set to become “routine mammography” in the screening setting in the next future. Dedicated pathways for high-risk women offering breast MRI according to national or international guidelines and recommendations are encouraged.Key points• EUSOBI and 30 national breast radiology bodies support screening mammography.• A first priority is double-reading biennial mammography for women aged 50–69 years.• Extension to 73–75 and from 40–45 to 49 years is also encouraged.• Digital mammography (not film-screen or computer radiography) should be used.• DBT is set to become “routine mammography” in the screening setting in the next future.

BackgroundThe objective of the study was to standardize a method using digital photographs to diagnose and grade hand osteoarthritis (HOA), to compare it with radiographs and clinical examination with regard to prevalence and relation to symptoms, and finally to construct a simple shortened version suitable for use in very large studies, where a global estimate may be preferable.MethodsHigh quality photographs with standard distance and hand positioning were analysed for the presence of HOA and subsequently compared with standard radiographs and clinical examination in 381 random participants in the AGES-Reykjavik Study, a large population study. The mean age of the participants was 76 years.ResultsUsing the photographic method, the most commonly affected joints were the second DIP joints followed by the third DIP joints and second and third PIP joints. Both interobserver (ICC = 0.83) and intraobserver reading agreements (ICC = 0.89) were acceptable. On comparison with radiography and clinical examination, aggregate scores were significantly correlated (Rs 0.35-0.69), more so in females (Rs 0.53-0.72) than males. Hand pain in males showed very little association with HOA findings by the three methods but all methods showed a comparable moderate association with hand pain in females. The performance of photography in predicting pain on most days for at least a month in females was comparable to that of radiography and clinical examination (AUC 0.63 p = 0.004). Analysis of intermittent pain yielded similar results for in the DIP and PIP joints (OR 3.2-3.3, p < 0.01), but for the CMC1 joints, both radiography (OR 9.0, p < 0.0001), and clinical examination (OR 9.8, p < 0.0001), had higher predictive odds ratios for pain than photography (OR 3.6, p < 0.0001)., A shortened, rapidly performed form of reading photographs also showed a high degree of correlation with the other methods (Rs 0.56-0.82).ConclusionHigh quality hand photographs can be used to diagnose and grade hand osteoarthritis. The method has the advantage of being inexpensive and easy to perform. By using a slightly simplified method of reading, it appears to be highly suitable for use in large studies.

We measured the configuration of the femoral condyles on lateral radiographs in 100 consecutive, prospectively-studied patients with a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, with or without associated lesions of the menisci and collateral ligaments. The patients had mainly low-to-moderate activity demands, and in all the patients the cruciate tear was primarily treated non-operatively. A quotient was calculated from the measurements of sagittal depth and axial height in order to describe the geometry of the femoral condyles. Measurements were reproducible with an intra- and interobserver coefficient of correlation of 0.89-0.98. At follow-up, after 5 (3-6) years, 16 patients had developed disability leading to reconstructive surgery. The remaining 84 patients did not have any major functional limitations, but some had reduced their activity level. Individual variations in the articular geometry were found with a more spherical shape of the femoral condyles in the patients where non-operative treatment had failed. Our findings indicate that articular geometry is of importance for function after an anterior ligament lesion.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) precedes multiple myeloma (MM). Population-based screening for MGUS could identify candidates for early treatment in MM. Here we describe the Iceland Screens, Treats, or Prevents Multiple Myeloma study (iStopMM), the first population-based screening study for MGUS including a randomized trial of follow-up strategies. Icelandic residents born before 1976 were offered participation. Blood samples are collected alongside blood sampling in the Icelandic healthcare system. Participants with MGUS are randomized to three study arms. Arm 1 is not contacted, arm 2 follows current guidelines, and arm 3 follows a more intensive strategy. Participants who progress are offered early treatment. Samples are collected longitudinally from arms 2 and 3 for the study biobank. All participants repeatedly answer questionnaires on various exposures and outcomes including quality of life and psychiatric health. National registries on health are cross-linked to all participants. Of the 148,704 individuals in the target population, 80 759 (54.3%) provided informed consent for participation. With a very high participation rate, the data from the iStopMM study will answer important questions on MGUS, including potentials harms and benefits of screening. The study can lead to a paradigm shift in MM therapy towards screening and early therapy.

Summary Objective Previous studies have indicated that joint hypermobility may affect the development of clinical and radiological hand osteoarthritis (OA), but this question has not been addressed in epidemiological studies. Our objective was to investigate this relationship in a population-based study. Patients and methods The study group consisted of 384 unselected older participants in the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility–Reykjavik Study (161 males, median age 76, range 69–90, and 223 females median age 75, range 69–92). The criterion used for joint mobility was the single maximal degree of hyperextension of digits 2 and 5 on both hands (HYP°). Results HYP° was more prevalent in females and on the left hand in both men and women. Both genders had a positive association between the degree of mobility measured by HYP° and radiological scores for the first carpometacarpal joint (CMC1) OA. Thus, those with HYP° ≥70 had an odds ratio of 3.05 (1.69–5.5, P < 0.001) of having a Kellgren–Lawrence score of ≥3 in a CMC1 joint. There was also a trend towards a negative association between HYP° and proximal interphalangeal joint scores. Conclusion Hand joint mobility, defined as hyperextension in the metacarpophalangeal joints (HYP°) is more prevalent in females and on the left side. It was associated with more severe radiographic OA in the CMC1 joints in this population. The reasons for this relationship are not known, but likely explanations involve ligament laxity and CMC1 joint stability. These findings may relate to the left-sided predominance of radiographic OA in the CMC1 joints observed in many prevalence studies.

Several bacteria strains were choosen from pre-selected strains for further testing and characterisation. Hydrolytic activity of lipases from thermophilic bacteria was examined using olive oil as a substrate at different reaction temperatures. Alcoholytic activity was also investigated. Lipases from thermophilic bacteria have been successfully produced on a large scale.To be able to predict if these lipases can be used for transesterification reactions, these preparations need to be purified further or to be cloned.

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