Norwegian Institute of Public Health

About: Norwegian Institute of Public Health is a government organization based out in Oslo, Norway. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Pregnancy. The organization has 2038 authors who have published 8190 publications receiving 362847 citations. The organization is also known as: Folkehelseinstituttet & FHI.

Screened and unscreened hearing threshold levels for the adult population: results from the Nord-Trøndelag Hearing Loss Study

Abstract: This paper presents normative data of hearing threshold levels of a population screened with various criteria, as compared to unscreened population data. Computer-controlled pure-tone audiometry was administered to the adult population in Nord-Trondelag County, Norway, during 1995-1997. The 51975 participants also provided questionnaire information about occupational and leisure noise exposure, previous ear infections, and head injury. While screening had little effect on the median hearing threshold levels of young adults, there was a substantial effect when screening men above 40 years of age for a history of noise exposure. Screening for known ear-related disorders and diseases resulted in small effects on the mean hearing threshold levels The median hearing thresholds of both the screened and the unscreened sample exceeded the age and sex specific thresholds specified by the ISO 7029.

Impact of gender, maternal education, and birth order on the development of language comprehension: a longitudinal study from 18 to 36 months of age.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of child gender, maternal education, and birth order on language comprehension (LC) status at 18 and 36 months of age and on the change in LC between these time points. Gender interactions and interactions between maternal education and birth order are also examined. METHODS This study is based on data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Maternal report data on education, birth order, and child language in a sample of 44,921 children were used in linear regression analyses. RESULTS At 18 and 36 months of age, first-born girls of mothers with high educational attainment had the highest level of LC. Between 18 and 36 months of age, first-born boys of mothers with high educational attainment had the highest increase in LC. Having a highly educated mother contributed more to the increase in LC in boys than in girls. The boys whose mothers had the highest education level had lower scores than the girls whose mothers had the lowest educational level, at both ages. Although significant, the considerable effect of high maternal education was not substantially dependent on birth-order status. CONCLUSIONS Boys develop LC at a faster rate than girls between 18 and 36 months, but girls still remain superior in their level of LC at 36 months of age. Being firstborn or having a highly educated mother does not compensate for this lag.

RNA/DNA co-analysis from human menstrual blood and vaginal secretion stains: Results of a fourth and fifth collaborative EDNAP exercise

Abstract: The European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP) organized a fourth and fifth collaborative exercise on RNA/DNA co-analysis for body fluid identification and STR profiling. The task was to identify dried menstrual blood and vaginal secretion stains using specific RNA biomarkers, and additionally test 3 housekeeping genes for their suitability as reference genes. Six menstrual blood and six vaginal secretion stains, two dilution series (1/4-1/64 pieces of a menstrual blood/vaginal swab) and, optionally, bona fide or mock casework samples of human or non-human origin were analyzed by 24 participating laboratories, using RNA extraction or RNA/DNA co-extraction methods. Two novel menstrual blood mRNA multiplexes were used: MMP triplex (MMP7, MMP10, MMP11) and MB triplex (MSX1, LEFTY2, SFRP4) in conjunction with a housekeeping gene triplex (B2M, UBC, UCE). Two novel mRNA multiplexes and a HBD1 singleplex were used for the identification of vaginal secretion: Vag triplex (MYOZ1, CYP2B7P1 and MUC4) and a Lactobacillus-specific Lacto triplex (Ljen, Lcris, Lgas). The laboratories used different chemistries and instrumentation and all were able to successfully isolate and detect mRNA in dried stains. The simultaneous extraction of RNA and DNA allowed for positive identification of the tissue/fluid source of origin by mRNA profiling as well as a simultaneous identification of the body fluid donor by STR profiling, also from old and compromised casework samples. The results of this and the previous collaborative RNA exercises support RNA profiling as a reliable body fluid identification method that can easily be combined with current STR typing technology.

High risk of overdose death following release from prison: Variations in mortality during a 15-year observation period

Abstract: Background and Aims The time post-release from prison involves elevated mortality, especially overdose deaths. Variations in overdose mortality both by time since release from prison and time of release has not been investigated sufficiently. Our aims were to estimate and compare overdose death rates at time intervals after prison release and to estimate the effect on overdose death rates over calendar time. Design, Setting, Participants, Measurements This 15-year cohort study includes all individuals (n = 91 090) released from prison (1 January 2000 to 31 December 2014) obtained from the Norwegian prison registry, linked to the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry (2000–14). All-cause and cause-specific mortality were examined during different time-periods following release: first week, second week, 3–4 weeks and 2–6 months, and by three different time intervals of release. We calculated crude mortality rates (CMRs) per 1000 person-years and estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) by Poisson regression analysis adjusting for time intervals after prison release, release periods and time spent in prison. Findings Overdose deaths accounted for 85% (n = 123) of all deaths during the first week following release (n = 145), with a peak during the 2 days immediately following release. Compared with week 1, the risk of overdose death was more than halved during week 2 [IRR = 0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.31–0.59] and reduced to one-fifth in weeks 3–4 (IRR = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.16–0.31). The risk of overdose mortality during the first 6 months post-release was almost twofold higher in 2000–04 compared with 2005–09 (IRR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.43–0.65) and 2010–14 (IRR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.37–0.59). The risk of overdose death was highest for those incarcerated for 3–12 months compared with those who were incarcerated for shorter or longer periods, and recidivism was associated with risk of overdose death. Conclusions There is an elevated risk of death from drug overdose among individuals released from Norwegian prisons, peaking in the first week. The risk has reduced since 2000–04, but is greatest for those serving 3–12 months compared with shorter or longer periods.