Flawed experiment sends misleading message about corona-safe gyms OPINION: Without the presence of corona virus, the researchers’ hypothesis, that the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in training facilities with good hygiene and social distancing measures would be low, cannot be tested.
Is it possible to lose weight while building muscle? ASK A RESEARCHER: Weight loss requires a dieter to run a calorie deficit. Muscle growth requires a calorie surplus. Still, it is possible to achieve both goals simultaneously, research suggests.
You can build strength without weights Occlusion training is great for athletes who recover from injury, but it is not a very comfortable workout.
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.
Sibling studies: Nature's own randomised trials? COMMENT: Why do some people get sick while others remain healthy? We can learn more about that by comparing siblings to one another. But it is a delicate balancing act to perform such studies.
«Pandemics affect women and men differently» The history of and experiences from previous pandemics give us important information about how to handle today’s corona pandemic.
The Norwegian university started a coronavirus test factory and supplied test facilities around the country This is the story of how Norway’s largest university tackled the shortage of coronavirus tests at a time when the pandemic was a harsh reality, and the country was inadequately prepared for the crisis.
This method identified the sickest coronavirus patients best Emergency rooms use different ways to determine which coronavirus patients will need intensive care the most. One method more accurately predicted which patients would be hardest hit, according to a new study.
When bathing was medicine:What can we learn from doctors who promoted sea bathing back in the day? During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Norwegian doctors believed that salt stimulated the nerves and that cold water could boost a person’s metabolism.
A range of different COVID-19 vaccines are already being tested in humans. But how will the vaccines actually work? SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: At least 200 different vaccines against COVID-19 are under development and more than 20 candidates are being tested on healthy individuals. This gives hope that one or more will give protective immunity. But how are the vaccines designed and are there any obstacles?
We need to talk more about how we want to die, says researcher In Norway, about twelve per cent of people who died last year did so at home. Why don't more people get a planned ending of their lives, in their own bed?
Coronavirus and training in gyms: Misunderstandings about Randomized Training Trial OPINION: Joar Vittersø has misunderstood the rationale, design and results of our randomized trial on re-opening of gyms in Norway, write the researchers behind a Norwegian study on the transmission of coronavirus in gyms.
Small additives can make old antibiotics work again Norwegian researchers have created several promising additives for old antibiotics. But even if they were to reach the market, they would only be a short-term solution. “We can never win the battle against bacteria,” says professor Dag Berild.
Water channels in the brain can determine how deeply you sleep COMMENT: A new study has found a possible link between deep sleep and cleansing of the brain, which may prove to be the next step in understanding why we sleep.
“In excellent physical shape”: Football-playing 70-yr-old men have cells that are up to 11 years younger Older men who have played football throughout their lifetime are younger at cellular level than their inactive peers.
Chinese COVID-19 vaccine candidate gets USD $66 million in development funds The Norwegian-led vaccine coalition called CEPI has contributed USD $66 million to ensure testing of a Chinese vaccine candidate. The agreement will ensure a fair distribution of the vaccine, if it is successful.
Can an extreme low carb diet be used as medicine? Several studies in recent years have suggested that the ketogenic diet may work against a variety of diseases, such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and cancer.
Researchers found higher level of anxiety and depression in people who exercised less during COVID-19 lockdown Around 14 per cent of study respondents reported that they exercised less following the Norwegian lockdown, while 64 per cent remained unchanged and 22 per cent increased their amount of exercise.
Norwegian researchers have tested music therapy for chronic fatigue Young people who developed chronic fatigue after having mononucleosis were treated using a combination of music therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy in a small Norwegian study. The results give no clear answers.
Immigrants and men with low incomes and low education levels more likely to die of COVID-19 Men with low incomes, low education and who have never been married are at increased risk of dying from COVID-19. Immigrants from low-income countries are similarly vulnerable, according to a Swedish study.
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is now legal for all pregnant women in Norway. But how does it actually work? How can a mother's blood test reveal a chromosome defect in the foetus? Knowing how the test works also makes it easier to understand why it doesn't always give an accurate result.
Norway’s coronavirus tracing app halted by Data Protection Authority – too invasive and not useful “This reduces our ability to fight the spread of the virus that is happening now”, warns Camilla Stoltenberg, director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Public broadcaster's controversial coronavirus article spread disinformation to millions The public broadcaster NRK corrected the original article and published a follow-up. Nonetheless, the contents of their controversial story about the origins of the coronavirus reached millions of people online.
Your brain may be the organ strengthened the most by physical exercise, says neuroscientist Long-term studies show that people who are physically active on a regular basis can halve their risk of getting Alzheimer's. Why doesn't everyone use such easily accessible 'medicine'?
Who cares for the men who are left behind? OPINION: We need more research and less scorn, and a better understanding of the incel phenomenon in order to prevent radicalisation, writes Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair.
Swedes' trust in their experts may be dropping, meanwhile, Norwegians do not want open borders to their neighbour The Swedes had a great deal of confidence in their coronavirus experts at the start of the pandemic. This is about to change, a recent survey suggests.
Here’s how Norway’s public health institute will figure out what to do if the coronavirus flares up again A new mathematical model used by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) is like a tiny laboratory inside a computer, says the head of the institute’s modelling group.
Face masks: Why do different countries in the world have such different recommendations? Some of the answer to this question lies in the history of face masks and western prohibitions and unease related to the covering of faces in public.
One in three Norwegian women has taken the morning-after pill More than half of them had used emergency contraception more than once in their lives.
Data on how Norwegians move around allow for a finetuned model of calculating the spread of coronavirus But how accurate are these calculations, and what exactly can they be used for?
Cancer drug helped patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) Twenty-two of 40 patients with CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome, achieved clear improvements in physical function after receiving chemotherapy, according to a Norwegian study. But a CFS specialist sees shortcomings in the study.
Many people on the autism spectrum have too much vitamin B12, which is important for brain development and thinking Sigrun Hope is a consultant and specialist in psychiatry. She thinks she has uncovered what she calls “a small mystery”.
Anabolic steroid use reported by a third of male substance users A third of male patients seeking treatment for substance abuse had also used anabolic steroids, according to a new study from Oslo University Hospital. This puts them at greater risk for health problems.
How miniature human organs are giving hope to cancer patients SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Organoids. The good, the bad and the beautiful.
The coronavirus pandemic is now the most-covered topic by the Norwegian media — ever Over the past 70 years, cancer has been the disease that has been most widely covered by Norwegian media, with some exceptions. But then came the coronavirus.
How long does sex normally last before climaxing? For sure not all night, in case you might have thought so.
A new Norwegian sensor will help you sleep better when your sleep is being monitored The new Norwegian-developed sleep sensor means that a study subject doesn’t have to sleep with sensors on his or her body. In addition, the fact that it is contactless solves a problem related to the coronavirus crisis, says a Norwegian sleep scientist.
Obesity genes lowered metabolism Half of the population has genes that can prevent the body from burning calories. When Norwegian researchers knocked out these genes in mice, the mice became extremely thin, even though they ate as much as their rodent brethren.
Can vitamin D protect you from COVID-19? Several researchers believe we should recommend vitamin D supplements to fight the coronavirus. Some of the cited evidence, however, is produced by researchers sponsored by vitamin-D manufacturers, and one study appears in a predatory journal.
We will have pandemics every ten years, Norway’s Minister of Health told a national newspaper. Is that right? We've taken a closer look at Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie’s assertion.
Norwegian-British cancer medicine to be tested on British COVID-19 patients BerGenBio believes it is 80 per cent likely that their bemcentinib pill will help people who are sick with the coronavirus. The pill is now being tested on 120 British patients who have COVID-19.
Can the Coronavirus lead to more peace? SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Researchers have never before seen so many countries declaring a ceasefire because of the same reason.
Norway’s mortality rate during the coronavirus pandemic is probably lower than usual So far this year — during the coronavirus pandemic — the number of deaths in Norway is probably below the mortality rate from the same weeks in previous years.
No solid evidence to support that trigger points exist, says sports professor Research is lacking on the effectiveness of trigger point therapy, according to sports professor Kari Bø. Some people refer to trigger points as “muscle knots”, but what does that mean? Our muscles certainly don’t form knots.
Norwegian evidence map may be one of the world's most systematic overviews of research on COVID-19 The Norwegian Institute of Public Health is compiling and categorizing global corona research in what will be one of the most complete resources on COVID-19 research in the world. The research map will soon also include quality assessments of the studies.
Record numbers apply to nursing and medical studies during the coronavirus pandemic Never before have so many people applied to universities and university colleges in Norway. Almost every tenth applicant wants to become a nurse. Many also want to become doctors.
Multi-drug resistant bacteria: When the immune system during COVID-19 is attacked from two fronts SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Norwegian COVID-19 patients who get a secondary bacterial infection leading to pneumonia, are better equipped in their struggle against this than Italian patients. Are we doing enough to find new technology against multi-drug resistant bacteria?
Norwegian researchers want to make a universal vaccine covering all coronaviruses It is possible to make a universal vaccine against the flu virus – one that would give broad protection against all the mutations this virus is famous for. Norwegian researchers are now exploring whether the same method can be used for the coronaviruses.
A Norwegian virus app to help stop the spread of COVID-19 Norway will soon launch an app that can notify people if they have been in contact with someone infected by the coronavirus. The app will also allow authorities to monitor the effect of other measures to stop the spread. One in four Norwegians are sceptical, but half of those surveyed said they will download the app.
Professor and immunologist: I don't want COVID-19 SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Anne Spurkland, professor of moleculary immunology, has devoured available research on COVID-19. What she's found, has made her worried: “Give me a vaccine against this virus as soon as possible. “
Fewer ear infections at Norwegian emergency rooms after vaccine Many fewer small children are coming to Norwegian emergency rooms with painful ear infections after the pneumococcal vaccine became common.
Norwegian health minister: “We have control over the corona epidemic” According to new numbers, every person infected by the coronavirus in Norway now infects 0,7 others. But this is not a time to ease up on the strict corona measures, warns the health minister.
Here’s how researchers will find out if Norway’s efforts to fight the corona virus work Researchers are surveying what people do and who gets infected, but they won’t be able to say exactly how the coronavirus spreads.
Swedes trust their experts in the coronavirus crisis Many Norwegians shake their heads in disbelief at their neighbour Sweden’s approach to the coronavirus. But Sweden’s population greatly supports the country's corona experts, a recent study suggests.
Global Corona-study led from Norway: Life-saving drugs may be in place this summer The first results from the large WHO-trial on the effects of existing drugs on Covid-19 could be only 3-4 months away, says John-Arne Røttingen, coordinator of the study.
New research on stuttering: Personality is important in deciding which treatment works best People who stutter can benefit from going to a speech therapist. But their personality has as much to say as the treatment method itself in terms of results, one researcher says.
A revolution in vaccine development – but will we all benefit? OPINION: By manipulating the “instruction manuals” that control cell function in our bodies, we will soon be able to combat many diseases, including the new coronavirus outbreak. But in the worst-case scenario, such innovations will only benefit the rich.
Researchers to test giving blood from recovered coronavirus patients to the sick Researchers at Ullevål University Hospital are reviving a 100-year-old method from the 1918 influenza pandemic.
Very low mortality rate from coronavirus in Norway compared to other countries The mortality rate in Norway from Covid-19 is about 0.45 per cent. This is extremely low compared to other countries where the virus is widespread. Why?
Norwegian government: "The goal is to beat the coronavirus epidemic as much as possible" The goal is to delay the spread of infection as much as possible, says Espen Rostrup Nakstad from the Norwegian Directorate of Health. Geir Bukholm from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health says the end point will likely be immunity in the Norwegian population.
Your placenta may reveal risk of getting preeclampsia How much a placenta weighs can indicate the risk for illness in future pregnancies, according to new research.
Norwegian health official: "We don’t think it's possible to stop the COVID-19 epidemic" Will the coronavirus disappear from Norway after weeks or months of social isolation? Not at all. In all likelihood, there will be more sick and infected people than ever. We have asked Geir Bukholm from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health about what the plan for Norway actually is.
Breast cancer detected later in women with silicone breast implants Mammography screenings are less likely to detect breast cancer in women with silicone implants than in other women. Those who are diagnosed with cancer have bigger tumours that also more often spread to the lymph nodes.
Why the coronavirus vaccine will take months to make Scientists all over the world are working to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus. Norway is playing a leadership role in this race. The first vaccine candidate is already being tested on people in a Phase 1 trial.
Professor about the coronavirus: "I fear many children will die in refugee camps" Poor hygiene, lack of good health care services and isolation make people in Greek refugee camps highly vulnerable to the coronavirus, according to Professor Terje Andreas Eikemo.
Dramatic increase in mortality among the unmarried Unmarried people die far earlier than those who are married. The disparity has widened significantly in the last 40 years.
What if psychological disorders don’t have any underlying cause? Traditionally, both researchers and practicing psychologists have searched for the root cause of mental disorders: The trauma. The genes. The biochemistry that causes symptoms of anxiety or depression. But what if the symptoms are the actual disease?
A pill for celiac disease will come soon, researchers believe The only treatment for celiac disease today is to avoid gluten for the rest of your life. That can be difficult. But celiac researchers think that a pill or vaccine to treat the disease is not far off.
Doubling of ALS in Norway since the 1950s ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, causes the muscles and respiratory system to weaken. The incidence of ALS has increased significantly in Norway over the past seven decades. Thin people are more at risk. Smoking can also be a risk factor.
The Placebo Effect:From mystical magnetism to using our bodies inherent powers The human body has a remarkable built-in capacity for rectifying its own ailments. “The medical profession should make more use of this,” says Norwegian professor.
Concealing results from medical studies on humans will be banned Norwegian researchers will soon be legally required to share the results of medical research on humans. But will the law be followed? In the United States, six out of ten studies break the law, without penalty.
You are highly likely to inherit your parents sleeping problems Does one of your parents struggle with sleep problems? You should be prepared for the fact that you might also have the same problems.
Online therapy: Many more people can get help with the fear of public speaking Many people who suffer from social anxiety don’t dare to contact a psychologist. As a consequence, the people who struggle the most are the least likely to get help. A new study shows that online therapy is as effective as face-to-face therapy.
This is how they treat obsessive-compulsive disorder — in 4 days Gerd Kvale and Bjarne Hansen have had great success with their four-day treatment programme for obsessive-compulsive disorder. They think the general trend towards shorter treatment programmes is long overdue.
Eating less processed foods gave weight loss and lower risk of heart disease – also among men on a high fat diet The quality of the food you eat may be as important to your health as whether you eat lots of fat or carbohydrates, according to a new Norwegian study.
Most Nordic survivors of the 2004 tsunami are doing well “Humans can withstand great strain. This important finding in the trauma research can provide hope and faith", says researcher who has followed individuals affected by the tsunami for years.
More young people are getting ACL injuries than ever before. But surgery isn’t always the solution. Research shows that children do just fine without surgery. Treatment without surgery means less risk from the surgery itself, one researcher says.
