0000000000880152
AUTHOR
Harald Reiso
SARS-CoV-2 antibody persistence after five and twelve months: A cohort study from South-Eastern Norway
Objectives To assess total antibody levels against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) spike protein up to 12 months after Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) infection in non-vaccinated individuals and the possible predictors of antibody persistence. Methods This is the first part of a prospective multi-centre cohort study. Participants The study included SARS-CoV-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive and negative participants in South-Eastern Norway from February to December 2020. Possible predictors of SARS-CoV-2 total antibody persistence was assessed. The SARS-CoV-2 total antibody levels against spike protein were measured three to five months aft…
Six versus 2 weeks treatment with doxycycline in European Lyme neuroborreliosis: a multicentre, noninferiority, double-blinded, randomised and placebocontrolled trial
BackgroundThere is limited evidence regarding optimal duration of antibiotic treatment in neuroborreliosis. We aimed to compare efficacy and safety of oral doxycycline for 2 and 6 weeks in European Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB).MethodsThe trial had a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority design. Patients with LNB were recruited from eight Norwegian hospitals and randomised to doxycycline 200 mg once daily for 2 weeks, followed by 4 weeks of placebo, or doxycycline 200 mg once daily for 6 weeks. The primary endpoint was clinical improvement as measured by difference in a Composite Clinical Score (0–64 points) from baseline to 6 months. The non-inferiority margin was p…
Cognitive function in patients with neuroborreliosis: A prospective cohort study from the acute phase to 12 months post treatment
Background Long-term cognitive problems after neuroborreliosis treatment remain a subject of debate. We have previously shown that cognitive problems are not present in the acute phase of neuroborreliosis, although fatigue is common. The aim of this study was to re-assess the same patient cohort and evaluate long-term outcomes. Methods In this follow-up, we re-assessed 58 patients with well-characterized neuroborreliosis 12 months after completing treatment. The same protocol with eight subtests measuring attention and processing speed and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were used to compare the results from the acute phase to 12 months post treatment. Results We found no changes in attent…
Assessment of cognitive function, structural brain changes and fatigue 6 months after treatment of neuroborreliosis
Abstract Background Complete recovery after adequately treated neuroborreliosis is common, but studies report that some patients experience persistent symptoms like self-reported cognitive problems and fatigue. Persisting symptoms are often termed post-Lyme disease syndrome, of which etiology is not clearly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate cognitive function, possible structural changes in brain regions and level of fatigue. We have not found previous studies on neuroborreliosis that use standardized neuropsychological tests and MRI with advanced image processing to investigate if there are subtle regional changes in cortical thickness and brain volumes after treatment. …
The SmartSight Project: Use of Electronic Glasses to Improve Impaired Fields of Vision
Electronic glasses use advanced assistive technology that can improve function for persons with visual impairments. This paper presents work in progress in the SmartSight project, where existing versions of electronic glasses are adapted and tested for persons with the visual impairments; macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. The project aims are to adapt and innovate electronic glasses for persons with impaired fields of vision and study the impact on the daily function and quality of life. In a pilot test of the electronic glasses, promising results were found that imply a big difference for persons with impaired vision. The outcome of the SmartSight project might change the clin…
User-Centered Design of a National Medical Registry for Tick-Borne Diseases
Tick-borne diseases are increasing in a global perspective, with Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis as the most frequent. The Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Tick-borne Diseases is preparing the development of a national medical registry for clinical follow-up of patients with tick-borne diseases based on the best practice guidelines and for research purposes. This paper presents the methodological approach of a user-centered design process applied in the initial phase of the registry development. A user workshop identified user needs, requirements and proposed a service workflow for the registry operation. As the next step, a simulation of the proposed service workflow was perfor…
User-Centered Design of a National Medical Registry for Tick-Borne Diseases
Tick-borne diseases are increasing in a global perspective, with Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis as the most frequent. The Norwegian National Ad-visory Unit on Tick-borne Diseases is preparing the development of a national medical registry for clinical follow-up of patients with tick-borne diseases based on the best practice guidelines and for research purposes. This paper presents the methodological approach of a user-centered design process applied in the in-itial phase of the registry development. A user workshop identified user needs, requirements and proposed a service workflow for the registry operation. As the next step, a simulation of the proposed service workflow was perf…
Enhancement of cranial nerves in Lyme neuroborreliosis: incidence and correlation with clinical symptoms and prognosis
Abstract Purpose Symptoms of cranial neuritis are a common presentation of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). Imaging studies are scarce and report contradictory low prevalence of enhancement compared to clinical studies of cranial neuropathy. We hypothesized that MRI enhancement of cranial nerves in LNB is underreported, and aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical impact of cranial nerve enhancement in early LNB. Methods In this prospective, longitudinal cohort study, 69 patients with acute LNB were examined with MRI of the brain. Enhancement of cranial nerves III–XII was rated. MRI enhancement was correlated to clinical findings of neuropathy in the acute phase and after 6 months. Results T…