Health - ScienceNordic

The AstraZeneca vaccine may cause rare blood clots. Norwegian researchers are trying to find out why

Norwegian researchers are analyzing blood samples and sending out questionnaires to participants of previous health studies to find answers to the AstraZeneca side effect riddle.

EMA: Blood clots should be listed as a very rare side effect from the AstraZeneca-vaccine

222 cases of blood clots could be connected to the AstraZeneca vaccine, according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). They are still convinced the benefits from the vaccine outweigh the risks.

Research on school lockdowns: These are the mistakes to avoid

Resarchers from the Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies list three things to be learned from the Norwegian school lockdown last year.

Nanobodies – a smaller and better version of antibodies?

Nanobodies, a protein derived from the camel’s immune system, can prove very helpful in combating a variety of diseases and ailments. But what are they exactly and how far has the current nanobody research come?

Do you easily gain weight? It might have something to do with the calories in the toilet

Our bodies do not take up all the calories we ingest. New research indicates that certain people are protected from weight gain simply because a significant part of their calorie intake ends up going down the toilet drain.

Norwegian health authorities will keep investigating possible side effects from the AstraZeneca vaccine

Norwegian authorities have concluded that the pause in vaccinations using AstraZeneca will be kept in place.

World tuberculosis day: Many people with TB are going untreated during the Covid-19 pandemic

OPINION: There is a great risk for a surge in the TB cases and mortality in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vaccine researcher doubts the AstraZeneca vaccine will be used in Norway again

Norwegian health authorities are considering whether they'll resume use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. A vaccine researcher at the University of Oslo doubts that will happen.

This is why Norway is still saying no to the AstraZeneca-vaccine

Norwegian experts are confident that the rare blood clot condition is a side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Pausing the vaccine has been necessary for maintaining trust, according to Minister of Health Bent Høie.

NORWAY: Two new patients dead from blood clots after having received the AstraZeneca-vaccine

The Norwegian Medicines Agency report two further deaths among patients with blood clots at Oslo University Hospital after having received the AstraZeneca vaccine.

EU's drug regulator backs the AstraZeneca vaccine, calling it "safe and effective"

But the report from the Norwegian doctors claiming a link between blood clots and the vaccine, has not been part of their evaluation.

Norwegian experts say deadly blood clots were caused by the AstraZeneca covid vaccine

“Our theory that this is a powerful immune response most likely triggered by the vaccine, has been confirmed”, says professor and chief physician Pål Andre Holme. Three Norwegian health workers under the age of 50 have been hospitalized. One is dead.

How healthy and climate friendly is Norwegian farmed salmon?

Swedish researchers have assessed one of Norways most important export products, farmed salmon, in a new report.

How your immune system combats infections like COVID-19

Your immune cells can be found everywhere in your body and without hesitating they will fight against any intruder to ensure your well-being. But how much do you know about your immune system and the way your immune cells handle infections like COVID-19?

How can Denmark better detect children 0-5 years with developmental and behavioral problems?

COMMENT: The first years of life are crucial for the rest of life. Still, too many infants and toddlers are largely not periodically screened to measure their communication, motor, cognitive, social and emotional skills in Denmark, and therefore you might not be swiftly identifying the children who deserve extra help, writes an American pediatrician.

Norwegian researchers may have discovered promising Covid-19 treatments

Testing in patients is expected to start within the next two to four months.

Norwegian doctors are investigating if blood clots could be linked to the AstraZeneca-vaccine. Here's what they're looking for

Norwegian clinical experts are investigating whether the vaccine caused an unexpected immune reaction in three health workers who fell ill. No causal connection has been established.

Living micro-tumours grown outside the body could cure brain cancer

The scientists print out cancer cells and test hundreds of medications to see what works for every single tumour. “Only personalized treatment can increase survival for brain cancer-patients,” says Norwegian cancer researcher.

Fertility rate in Norway drops to 1,5 children per woman

That’s half a child less than in 2009.

Brain researcher: Here’s why the pandemic came as a surprise to us

The brain’s two systems make it difficult for us to understand dangers we haven’t actually experienced.

Why did things go so wrong in Sweden?

Sweden wanted to show the world a more humane way through a global pandemic. For some, this has become a tragic example of how wrong things can go in a society. But opinions are divided.

Life during the pandemic has been brutal for most, but some of us have experienced a new and better world

A year has now passed since the coronavirus swept through the world. People have reacted very differently to a closed society, researchers have found.

Older men don’t talk enough about sex

Women do so much of the talking that men become mute, according to Elsa Mari Almås, a professor and couple therapist.

Could your brain run out of space?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Everything we know is stored in the brain, but can we eventually run out of space?

Babies conceived with assisted reproduction weigh less when they are born, but they rapidly catch up

When 17-year-olds who were conceived with assisted reproduction were screened before military service, they provided information about their height and weight. Researchers have used these data to find out how they have fared over time.

Is cold water swimming in the winter healthy?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Winter swimming has become popular in Norway. But what does the research have to say about this?

Do you stay up late because you need time for yourself?

Sleep researchers have long known that many people go to bed late. In Chinese, the term “revenge bedtime procrastination” has become popular. It’s used to describe people with little personal time who choose to sleep less so they can unwind at night.

Does being outside when it's really cold make you more exhausted — even if you don’t do anything tiring?

ASK A RESEARCHER: The answer depends on whether you start to freeze or not.

Vaccine resistance is nothing new. What can we learn from sceptics of the past?

In order to get married in the 19th century, Norwegians had to present a certificate showing that they had received the smallpox vaccine. In the UK, the vaccine requirements were enforced even more strictly.

High prices should not be a barrier to combat the COVID-19 pandemic

OPINION: Here are four principles which could ensure equitable access to COVID-19 tools and health products, particularly for low and middle-income countries.

Does lying on your stomach after giving birth help your uterus contract?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Does the uterus need help contracting postpartum? Is there any point to speeding this up? And does it really help to lie on your stomach, as some women are advised to do after giving birth? We've asked the experts.

A blood test can detect Alzheimer's five years before symptoms appear

The new Swedish blood test is described as a breakthrough in Alzheimer's research.

New model could explain old cholesterol mystery

Saturated fats increase cholesterol. And high cholesterol is linked to heart disease. But why are researchers unable to show that saturated fat actually leads to heart disease?

Emotions shape how we perceive health information

Many people have trouble understanding health information. It’s not just differences in people’s knowledge of health issues that are the cause of the problem, says Professor Pål Gulbrandsen, who studies communication between doctors and patients.

Our hearing's gotten better in the last 20 years, here's why

Quieter workplaces and fewer ear infections might be why we have better hearing today than the people who came before us, according to a new study.

All Norwegians above 18 may be vaccinated against Covid-19 by September

Three new vaccines will need to be approved to make it happen.

Financial worries gave Norwegians symptoms of PTSD when the pandemic hit the country

Worrying about losing your income is extremely stressful, says researcher.

COVID-19 vaccines pave the way for new types of medication

Patients suffering from cancer, heart attacks, haemophilia or a torn meniscus might soon be treated using RNA.

Is it really true that if you have a low resting heart rate, you’re really fit?

Many athletes have a very low resting heart rate, but that doesn’t mean that a low resting heart rate in itself means that you are in good condition, says a professor at the Norwegian School of Sports Science.

We eat candy to deal with the pandemic

63 per cent of women and 43 per cent of men used food to deal with their feelings during the lockdown last spring, according to a new survey of Norwegians.

Premature babies have a higher risk of dying from chronic disease as adults

Those that were born prematurely had a 40 per cent higher risk of dying from chronic disease than the rest of the population, according to a new study.

Promising results for colon cancer screening

Almost 400 people were diagnosed with colon cancer at an early stage in a Norwegian pilot project. Soon screening will be available for everyone in Norway.

Tuberculosis and cholera gave us sewage systems and posters against spitting. What will the coronavirus leave us with?

Will we ever be able to hug again?

Skipping lunch break can be bad to your health

Skipping your lunch break at work increases the risk of physical and mental exhaustion, according to a new study from the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.

Previous strokes connected to an increased risk of Covid related death

Older age, previous strokes, metastatic cancer and being a man are all characteristics connected to an increased risk of dying with Covid-19, according to a Norwegian study.

Norwegians get happier as they age, but the richest 25 per cent of the population is still the happiest

One in every four Norwegians is very happy with their life, according to a new survey. The young are less content than the old.

Study on Lightning Process-course for CFS/ME patients raises controversy

“Our intent is simply to check whether the method works,” says NTNU project manager Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair. “A dangerous study,” says head physician Kristian Sommerfelt.

Pain after nerve damage can cause severe memory impairment

Many people with chronic pain from nerve damage have far poorer cognitive function than fibromyalgia patients and healthy individuals, according to a new study. The discovery is deemed important ground-breaking work.

Nurses from EU-countries were poorly prepared to work in Norway

Nurses from countries like Poland, Lithuania and Spain are unprepared for the expectations and the large amounts of responsibility that nurses have in Norway.

Pupils rarely transmitted COVID-19 to others, according to Norwegian study

Children in primary school very rarely pass the virus on to others, according to a new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

The first Covid-19 cases took infection prevention advice less seriously

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: What are the differences between those who were first infected with COVID-19 and the rest of the population? If they had less respect for the virus or were less careful with limiting contagion, this may give us a clue as to how we should fight pandemics.

Can beta-glucans from the health food store become a weapon in the fight against cancer and deadly infections?

Forty years ago, two Norwegian professors saw cancerous tumours shrink and disappear. They saw laboratory animals survive deadly infections. And all because of a special substance found in nature. But the rest of the research community wasn’t that impressed. Why did this substance end up in health food stores, and never as a drug developed in Norway?

Child abuse went under the radar during the pandemic

Several studies show that fewer cases of child abuse were reported during the pandemic. 15 per cent of young people in Norway were hurt or abused when schools were closed during the lockdown.

Higher risk of bone fractures among vegans

People who strive to eat a 100 per cent plant-based diet have to familiarize themselves with the nutrient profile of foods and make nutritious choices, says Norwegian researcher.

Professor receives royal award for work on cancer vaccine

Professor Bjarne Bogen has received this year's King Olav V's Prize for Cancer Research for his contributions in the creation of a personalized cancer vaccine.

Sex, Covid and archaeology. Here’s what you enjoyed reading the most in 2020.

Health and archaeology are the clear winners in our list of top ten most read articles last year.

Your genes, not your blood type, are important in determining how you’ll respond to a COVID-19 infection

Ten minutes. That’s how long it took for a Norwegian billionaire to decide to fund a major international study on COVID-19. Now the research results are rolling in.

Quiet people suffer without being seen

A surprisingly large portion of the population may suffer from a personality disorder that very few have heard of.

Elderly patients in institutional care in Norway pleased with how society has tried to protect them against COVID-19

Protecting vulnerable elderly people is one of the primary purposes of Nowegian corona measures. A new Norwegian study has looked at how a group of elderly patients at a psychiatric nursing institution experienced the pandemic.

Economist: Vaccination most effective in areas with the fewest infections

We’ll get the greatest benefit from each vaccine dose if the vaccine is first given in areas with little infection, says researcher. Norway, for example, is in a far better situation than the United States to get the maximum utility from each vaccine dose.

Much lower use of antidepressants in Norway compared to the rest of Europe

“We have a more realistic view of what antidepressant drugs can actually do today”, says researcher.

Is it possible to train the immune system to help in the fight against COVID-19?

Many experts have stated that we can’t do anything to improve the immune system's ability to cope with COVID-19. But research actually shows that training an ancient part of the immune system is possible. Could this be useful in future pandemics?

Nine out of ten had eight different plasticizers in their urine, study finds

A number of different chemicals from food, cosmetics, shampoo and skin care products pass through our bodies daily, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health finds. Further analysis is needed to determine the potential health risk.

Norwegian Health officials are working around the clock to prepare for the COVID-19 vaccines

"But we can't approve vaccines based on press releases", says one official.

A mother’s postnatal depression can be passed on to the father

Depression before and after birth can be contagious. Particularly in relationships that experience a lot of uncertainties.

New Staphylococcus bacteria discovered in Norway

Researchers at the Arctic University of Norway UiT discovered the new species of bacteria by chance.

Overly enthusiastic 70-year olds messed up study on physical activity

The researchers wanted to find out if exercise prolongs life and protects against disease. But a disobedient control group gave them trouble. They exercised more than they were supposed to.

Nature or nurture? Here’s what researchers found out when they studied children with depression

Genes can affect the next generation through the environment the parents create, according to a large study of Norwegian families.

Risk of running out of ventilators for COVID-19 patients in Norway significantly reduced

The risk that Norway might need more than 500 ventilators for corona patients has been reduced from 99,5 per cent to 5,5 per cent, according to the most recent calculations from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, NIPH.

Violence and abuse in childhood linked to more stress hormones in pregnancy

New findings may help explain how the effects of traumatic events are passed on from one generation to the next. One psychologist says the findings are extremely interesting, but also very disturbing.

Fewer suicides during the first months of COVID-19 in Norway

Financial support packages and good mental health services may have made a difference, according to professor.

Taxi drivers and health workers are among the most exposed to the coronavirus

Bartenders, waiters, drivers, nurses and dentists. People with occupations that require contact with customers and patients are more exposed to the coronavirus.

What determines whether you have a good sex life as an older adult?

If you had an active sex life when you were young, the same will probably be true as you age.

Preliminary data suggest that cod liver oil users have lower risk of getting COVID-19

But is it because cod liver oil protects against COVID-19, or do those who take a daily dose have other lifestyle factors that lower their risk of infection?

The spread of the coronavirus can almost be stopped in eight weeks, one research group says

The researchers have calculated that strict measures coordinated by the WHO in a number of global hot spots, could reduce the spread of the virus by 90 per cent in eight weeks. Other experts question whether the strategy can actually be implemented in real life.

Why are fewer men becoming fathers than before?

One in five men haven’t had children of their own by the age of 50. Fewer and fewer men are becoming fathers. What’s happening to Norwegian men?

The French man who forgot about fruit shows us how the language we speak is pre-coded in our brains

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: A dog is not an apple. And this is perhaps why one man after a stroke no longer knew what an apple was.