• Interobserver Reliability of Four Diagnostic Methods Using Traditional Korean Medicine for Stroke Patients 

      Lee, Ju Ah; Ko, Mi Mi; Kang, Byoung-Kab; Alræk, Terje; Birch, Stephen; Lee, Myeong S. (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2014)
    • Is amalgam removal in patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms cost-effective? A prospective cohort and modelling study in Norway 

      Lamu, Admassu Nadew; Björkman, Lars; Hamre, Harald Johan; Alræk, Terje; Musial, Frauke; Robberstad, Bjarne (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-04-29)
      There are many patients in general practice with health complaints that cannot be medically explained. Some of these patients attribute their health complaints to dental amalgam restorations. This study examined the cost-effectiveness of the removal of amalgam restorations in patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) attributed to amalgam fillings compared to usual care, based ...
    • Mapping of systematic reviews on traditional medicine across health conditions: A protocol for a systematic map 

      Ang, Lin; Song, Eunhye; Jong, Maria Catharina; Alræk, Terje; Vellinga, Barbara Wider; Choi, Tae-Young; Jun, Ji Hee; Lee, Boram; Choi, Yujin; Lee, Hye Won; Yang, Changsop; Lee, Myeong Soo (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-12-11)
      Introduction - Traditional medicine (TM) is an important part of healthcare either as the main healthcare system or as a complement to conventional medicine. The effectiveness of TM has been assessed in clinical trials that have been synthesised into thousands of systematic reviews (SRs). This study is commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is aimed at providing a systematic map of ...
    • Mercury, silver and selenium in serum before and after removal of amalgam restorations: results from a prospective cohort study in Norway 

      Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke; Alræk, Terje; Werner, Erik Lønnmark; Hamre, Harald J. (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-11-16)
      <p><b> Objective</b> A prospective cohort study on changes of health complaints after removal of amalgam restorations was carried out at the request of the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The aim was to provide and evaluate experimental treatment to patients with health complaints attributed to dental amalgam fillings. <p><b> Methods</b> Patients (n = 32) with medically unexplained ...
    • Mercury, silver and selenium in serum before and after removal of amalgam restorations: results from a prospective cohort study in Norway 

      Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke; Alræk, Terje; Werner, Erik Lønnmark; Hamre, Harald J. (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-11-16)
      Objective A prospective cohort study on changes of health complaints after removal of amalgam restorations was carried out at the request of the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The aim was to provide and evaluate experimental treatment to patients with health complaints attributed to dental amalgam fillings. <p><p>Methods Patients (n = 32) with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS), which ...
    • Needling Point Location Used in Sham Acupuncture for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis 

      Lee, Boram; Kwon, Chan-Young; Lee, Hye Won; Nielsen, Arya; Wieland, L Susan; Kim, Tae-Hun; Birch, Stephen; Alræk, Terje; Lee, Myeong Soo (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-09-06)
      IMPORTANCE When sham acupuncture is set as a control in evaluating acupuncture, the sham needling technique is usually different from acupuncture. However, the sham procedure is conducted either at the same points that are used for the acupuncture group or at nonindicated points.<p> <p>OBJECTIVE To assess whether the outcome of sham acupuncture varies according to the needling points in ...
    • Overview on pattern identification - History, nature and strategies for treating patients: A narrative review 

      Birch, Stephen; Alræk, Terje; Bovey, Mark; Lee, Myeong Soo; Lee, Ju Ah; Zaslawski, Chris; Robinson, Nicola; Kim, Tae-Hun; Bian, Zhao-Xiang (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-03-09)
      Introduction - In traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM), various systems of practice exist that have used different theories to guide their practice. Although data gathering has been limited to what can be observed by the four examinations - si zhen, the different systems of practice have focused on different observational data to make diagnostic decisions and choose corresponding treatments. The ...
    • Plausible Mechanism of Sham Acupuncture Based on Biomarkers: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials 

      Kim, Tae-Hun; Lee, Myeong Soo; Birch, Stephen; Alræk, Terje (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2022-02-03)
      Introduction: Sham acupuncture was developed to be used as an inert control intervention in clinical trials of acupuncture. However, controversies exist regarding the validity of sham acupuncture. In this systematic review (SR) of acupuncture trials, we assessed whether serum biomarkers showed significant differences after sham and verum acupuncture treatments.<p> <p>Methods: Any acupuncture ...
    • Publication status and reporting quality of case reports on acupuncture-related adverse events: A systematic reviews of case studies 

      Kim, Tae-Hun; Lee, Myeong Soo; Birch, Stephen; Alræk, Terje; Norheim, Arne Johan; Kang, Jung Won (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2023-09-30)
      Introduction: Case reports on acupuncture-related adverse events (AEs) have been consistently published in the literature. This review aims to assess the current publication status of case reports on acupuncture-related AEs and evaluate their reporting quality in order to identify areas for improvement.<p> <p>Methods: This study is a systematic review (SR) of case reports. Studies describing cases ...
    • The Red flag! risk assessment among medical homeopaths in Norway: a qualitative study 

      Stub, Trine; Alræk, Terje; Salamonsen, Anita (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2012)
      Homeopathy is widely used, and many European physicians practice homeopathy in addition to conventional medicine. Adverse effects in homeopathy are not expected by homeopaths due to the negligible quantities of active substances in a remedy. However, we questioned if homeopathic aggravation, which is described as a temporary worsening of existing symptoms following a correct homeopathic remedy, ...
    • Reducing the risk of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM):Challenges and priorities 

      White, Adrian; Boon, Heather; Alræk, Terje; Lewith, George; Liu, Jian Ping; Norheim, Arne Johan; Steinsbekk, Aslak; Yamashita, Hitoshi; Fønnebø, Vinjar (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2013)
      Introduction: The safety of health care is increasingly prominent concern of the public, applying to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as well as conventional treatment. In 2009, a group of academic and clinical CAM researchers held a workshop to discuss the constraints and priorities of research into CAM safety. This group here report their discussions, and offer collaboration with ...
    • Removal of dental amalgam restorations in patients with health complaints attributed to amalgam: A prospective cohort study 

      Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke; Alræk, Terje; Werner, Erik Lønnmark; Weidenhammer, Wolfgang; Hamre, Harald Johan (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2020-08-18)
      <i>Background</i> - The Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services initiated a project including experimental treatment for patients with health complaints attributed to amalgam restorations.<br><br> <i>Objective</i> - The aim was to evaluate changes of general health complaints in patients who participated in the project and had all amalgam restorations removed.<br><br> <i>Methods</i> - ...
    • Risk in homeopathy: Classification of adverse events and homeopathic aggravations – A cross sectional study among Norwegian homeopath patients 

      Stub, Trine; Kristoffersen, Agnete Egilsdatter; Alræk, Terje; Musial, Frauke; Steinsbekk, Aslak (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2015-06-10)
      The registration of adverse events is important to identify treatment that might impose risk to patients. Homeopathic aggravation, a concept unique for homeopathy may impose a particular risk, as it is tolerant towards a worsening of the patients’ symptoms. The aim of this study was to explore the classification of patient reported reactions as homeopathic aggravations or adverse events. <br>Design ...
    • Use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with health complaints attributed to former dental amalgam fillings 

      Kristoffersen, Agnete Egilsdatter; Musial, Frauke; Hamre, Harald Johan; Björkman, Lars; Stub, Trine; Salamonsen, Anita; Alræk, Terje (Conference object; Konferansebidrag, 2016-09-09)
      Some patients experience health complaints which they attribute to dental amalgam. The symptom pattern is similar to medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS). The most common amalgam related symptoms are fatigue/exhaustion, dizziness, mental symptoms (concentration and memory disturbances, anxiety, irritability, restlessness and depression), pain (muscle, joint, neck and shoulder, ...
    • Use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients with health complaints attributed to former dental amalgam fillings. 

      Kristoffersen, Agnete Egilsdatter; Musial, Frauke; Hamre, Harald Johan; Björkman, Lars; Stub, Trine; Salamonsen, Anita; Alræk, Terje (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2016-01-22)
      <p>Background The dental filling material amalgam is generally well tolerated. However, a small proportion of dental patients experience health complaints which they attribute to amalgam. The symptom pattern is often similar to patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) and the health complaints may persist after amalgam removal. Among patients with MUPS, the use of complementary ...
    • Utprøvende behandling ved helseplager attribuert til amalgamfyllinger. En prospektiv kohortstudie 

      Björkman, Lars; Musial, Frauke; Alræk, Terje; Werner, Erik Lønnmark; Hamre, Harald Johan (Research report; Forskningsrapport, 2022-06)
      På oppdrag fra Helsedirektoratet har Bivirkningsgruppen for odontologiske biomaterialer gjennomført et prosjekt med utprøvende behandling rettet mot pasienter med langvarige medisinsk uforklarte helseplager (MUPS) som de selv mente hadde sammenheng med amalgamfyllinger. Pasientene ble på forhånd undersøkt av tannlege og lege i henhold til gjeldende retningslinjer og fikk deretter skiftet ut alle ...
    • Validity and responsiveness of EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D in patients with health complaints attributed to their amalgam fillings: a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing amalgam removal 

      Lamu, Admassu N.; Björkman, Lars; Hamre, Harald Johan; Alræk, Terje; Musial, Frauke; Robberstad, Bjarne (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-04-17)
      <i>Background</i> - Evidence of health utility changes in patients who suffer from longstanding health complaints attributed to dental amalgam fillings are limited. The change in health utility outcomes enables calculating quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and facilitates the comparison with other health conditions. The purpose of this study was to estimate the validity and responsiveness of the ...
    • Validity and responsiveness of GHC-index in patients with amalgam-attributed health complaints 

      Lamu, Admassu Nadew; Robberstad, Bjarne; Hamre, Harald Johan; Alræk, Terje; Musial, Frauke; Björkman, Lars (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-10-15)
      Objective - Many patients have medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS); some of them attribute their health complaints to dental amalgam fillings. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and responsiveness of General Health Complaints index (GHC-index) for measuring the symptom load in MUPS patients compared to the widely used symptom outcome measure, Giessen Subjective Complaints ...
    • Validity and responsiveness of GHC-index in patients with amalgam-attributed health complaints 

      Lamu, Admassu Nadew; Robberstad, Bjarne; Hamre, Harald J.; Alræk, Terje; Musial, Frauke; Björkman, Lars (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2021-10-15)
      <p><b> Objective</b> Many patients have medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS); some of them attribute their health complaints to dental amalgam fillings. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and responsiveness of General Health Complaints index (GHC-index) for measuring the symptom load in MUPS patients compared to the widely used symptom outcome measure, Giessen Subjective ...
    • What circumstances lead to non-disclosure of cancer-related information in China? A qualitative study 

      Ni, Yi Hu; Alræk, Terje (Journal article; Tidsskriftartikkel; Peer reviewed, 2016-11-11)
      Background: Withholding information from cancer patients is a common practice in many Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Singapore, as well as in some Western countries, such as Spain, Greece, and Italy. Much research has investigated why doctors withhold information from cancer patients generally, both in the West and the East, but little research has been done on specifically ...