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The molecular epidemiology of a representative collection of sporadic foreign and domestically acquired Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) isolates from Norwegian patients in 1996-9 was studied by numerical analysis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles. Three subclusters (E5, F1 and G1) comprised 47% of the 102 sporadic isolates investigated and 45% of the domestically acquired isolates fell in subclusters E5 and F1. Distinct seasonal and geographic variations were evident for these strains which have been responsible for both local outbreaks (E5) and a national epidemic (F1) where salmonella-infected hedgehogs and birds constituted the suggested primary source of infection. Subcluster G1 was dominated by imported multi-resistant definitive type (DT) 104 isolates. All multi-resistant isolates contained integron-associated gene cassette-structures. This study presents valuable information on the relative significance, geographic distribution and antibiotic resistance features of distinct S. Typhimurium clones causing human salmonellosis among Norwegians.

The aim of the present randomized double-blind placebo control trial was to investigate if vitamin D supplementation had an effect on vitamin D status, executive functioning and self-perceived mental health in a group of Norwegian adolescents during winter time. Fifty adolescents were randomly assigned into an intervention group (vitamin D pearls) or a control group (placebo pearls). Before (pre-test in December/January) and after (post-test in April/May) the intervention period the participants were exposed to a test procedure, consisting of blood draw, completion of cognitive tests (Tower of Hanoi and Tower of London), and the Youth Self-report version of the Child Behavior Checklist. Multivariate data analysis showed that participants with low vitamin D status scored worse on the Tower of London tests and the more difficult sub-tasks on the Tower of Hanoi tests. They also had a tendency to report higher frequency of externalizing behavior problems and attention deficit. At pre-test, the overall mean vitamin D status measured as 25-hydroxy vitamin D was 42 nmol/L, defining deficiency (Intervention group = 44 nmol/L, Control group = 39 nmol/L). However, vitamin D supplementation caused a significant increase in vitamin D status resulting in a sufficient level in the Intervention group at post-test (mean 62 nmol/L). The results also revealed that the intervention group improved their performance on the most demanding sub-tasks on the ToH. Overall, the study indicates that vitamin D status in adolescents may be important for both executive functioning and mental health.

Purpose: Although strength and sprint training are widely used methods in competitive cycling, no previous studies have compared the acute responses and recovery rates following such sessions among highly trained cyclists. The primary aim of the current study was to compare power production and biochemical markers of metabolic stress and muscle damage following a session of heavy strength (HS) and short-sprint training (SS).Methods: Eleven well-trained male cyclists (18 ± 2 years with maximal oxygen uptake of 67.2 ± 5.0 mL·kg−1·min−1) completed one HS session and one SS session in a randomized order, separated by 48 h. Power production and biochemical variables were measured at baseline and at different time points during the first 45 h post exercise.Results: Lactate and human growth hormone were higher 5 min, 30 min and 1 h post the SS compared to the HS session (all p ≤ 0.019). Myoglobin was higher following the HS than the SS session 5 min, 30 min and 1 h post exercise (all p ≤ 0.005), while creatine kinase (CK) was higher following the HS session 21 and 45 h post exercise (p ≤ 0.038). Counter movement jump and power production during 4 sec sprint returned to baseline levels at 23 and 47 h with no difference between the HS and SS session, whereas the delayed muscle soreness score was higher 45 h following the HS compared to the SS session (p = 0.010).Conclusion: Our findings indicate that SS training provides greater metabolic stress than HS training, whereas HS training leads to more muscle damage compared to that caused by SS training. The ability to produce power remained back to baseline already 23 h after both training sessions, indicating maintained performance levels although higher CK level and muscle soreness were present 45 h post the HS training session.

Practice-based training in education is important, expensive, and resource-demanding. Digital games can provide complementary training opportunities for practicing procedural skills and increase the value of the limited laboratory training time in biomedical laboratory science (BLS) education. This paper presents how a serious game can be integrated in a BLS course and supplement traditional learning and teaching with accessible learning material for phlebotomy. To gather information on challenges relevant to integrating Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL), a case was carried out using mixed methods. Through a semester-long study, following a longitudinal, interventional cohort study, data and information were obtained from teachers and students about the learning impact of the current application. The game motivated students to train more, and teachers were positive towards using it in education. The results provide increased insights into how DGBL can be integrated into education and give rise to a discussion of the current challenges of DGBL for practice-based learning.