Asgeir Johannessen

• Vestad, Beate; Ueland, Thor; Lerum, Tøri Vigeland; Dahl, Tuva Børresdatter; Holm, Kristian & Barratt-Due, Andreas [Show all 37 contributors for this article] (2022). Respiratory dysfunction three months after severe COVID-19 is associated with gut microbiota alterations. Journal of Internal Medicine. ISSN 0954-6820. doi: 10.1111/joim.13458. Show summary

  Background: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is primarily a respiratory infection, mounting evidence suggests that the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is involved in the disease, with gut barrier dysfunction and gut microbiota alterations being related to disease severity. Whether these alterations persist and are related to long-term respiratory dysfunction remains unknown. Methods: Plasma was collected during hospital admission and after three months from the NOR-Solidarity trial (n = 181) and analysed for markers of gut barrier dysfunction and inflammation. At the three-month follow-up, pulmonary function was assessed by measuring the diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO ). Rectal swabs for gut microbiota analyses were collected (n = 97) and analysed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Results: Gut microbiota diversity was reduced in COVID-19 patients with respiratory dysfunction, defined as DLCO below the lower limit of normal three months after hospitalisation. These patients also had an altered global gut microbiota composition, with reduced relative abundance of 20 bacterial taxa and increased abundance of five taxa, including Veillonella, potentially linked to fibrosis. During hospitalisation, increased plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) were strongly associated with respiratory failure, defined as pO2 /fiO2 -(P/F ratio)

• Kåsine, Trine; Riise, Anne Margarita Dyrhol; Barratt-Due, Andreas; Kildal, Anders Benjamin; Olsen, Inge Christoffer & Nezvalova-Henriksen, Katerina [Show all 39 contributors for this article] (2021). Neutrophil count predicts outcome in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Results from the NOR-Solidarity trial. Journal of Internal Medicine. ISSN 0954-6820. 291(2), p. 241–243. doi: 10.1111/joim.13377. Show summary

  Despite numerous studies on SARS-CoV-2-induced inflammation, we still lack markers for rapid disease progression with admission to intensive care unit (ICU) or respiratory failure(RF). Few studies have evaluated the prognostic value of routine diagnostic repertoire available at most hospitals. The NOR-Solidarity trial is an independent add-on study to the WHO Solidarity trial, evaluating hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)and remdesivir compared to standard of care in hospitalized COVID-19 patients [1]. We explored whether standard biomarkers in peripheral blood could give information on ICU admission and RFin hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

• Lerum, Tøri Vigeland; Maltzahn, Niklas; Aukrust, Pål; Trøseid, Marius; Nezvalova-Henriksen, Katerina & Kåsine, Trine [Show all 27 contributors for this article] (2021). Persistent pulmonary pathology after COVID-19 is associated with high viral load, weak antibody response, and high levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 11, p. 1–12. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-02547-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Johannessen, Asgeir; Mekasha, Bitsatab; Desalegn, Hailemichael; Aberra, Hanna; Stene-Johansen, Kathrine & Berhe, Nega (2021). Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus in Ethiopia. Vaccines. ISSN 2076-393X. 9(5). doi: 10.3390/vaccines9050430. Full text in Research Archive
• Woldemedihn, Gezahegn Mekonnen; Rueegg, Corina Silvia; Desalegn, Hailemichael; Aberra, Hanna; Berhe, Nega & Johannessen, Asgeir (2020). Validity of a point-of-care viral load test for hepatitis B in a low-income setting. Journal of Virological Methods. ISSN 0166-0934. 289. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.114057.
• Orlien, Stian; Ahmed, Tekabe Abdosh; Ismael, Nejib Yusuf; Berhe, Nega; Kran, Anne-Marte Bakken & Gundersen, Svein Gunnar [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Field performance of HBsAg rapid diagnostic tests in rural Ethiopia. Journal of Virological Methods. ISSN 0166-0934. 289. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.114061.
• Desalegn, Hailemichael; Chanie, Yemisrach; Shume, Paulos; Delil, Miftah; Gupta, Neil & Johannessen, Asgeir (2020). Assessment of Noninvasive Markers of Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C in Ethiopia. Clinical Liver Disease (CLD). ISSN 2046-2484. 16(4), p. 168–172. doi: 10.1002/cld.1040.
• Al-Shudifat, Abdel-Ellah; Azab, Mohammed; Johannessen, Asgeir; Agraib, Lana & Tayyem, Reema (2019). Is the intake of antioxidants associated with risk of coronary artery disease? A Jordanian case-control study . Topics in Clinical Nutrition. ISSN 0883-5691. 34(4), p. 259–268. doi: 10.1097/TIN.0000000000000185. Show summary

  This study aimed to determine whether the intake of antioxidants was a risk factor for developing coronary artery disease. A total of 399 participants who underwent coronary angiography were included in the study, and patients with coronary artery disease (cases) were compared with patients with a normal coronary angiography (controls). Antioxidant consumption was higher in the control group than in the cases. Specifically, the controls had a higher consumption of foods rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, and lycopene, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. The findings of the study suggest a possible beneficial association between coronary artery disease and the intake of dietary antioxidants

• Desalegn, Hailemichael; Aberra, Hanna; Berhe, Nega; Medhin, Girmay; Mekasha, Bitsatab & Gundersen, Svein Gunnar [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Predictors of mortality in patients under treatment for chronic hepatitis B in Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study. BMC Gastroenterology. ISSN 1471-230X. 19(74). doi: 10.1186/s12876-019-0993-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Aberra, Hanna; Desalegn, Hailemichael; Berhe, Nega; Mekasha, Bitsatab; Medhin, Girmay & Gundersen, Svein Gunnar [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). The WHO guidelines for chronic hepatitis B fail to detect half of the patients in need of treatment in Ethiopia. Journal of Hepatology. ISSN 0168-8278. 70(6), p. 1065–1071. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.01.037.
• Desalegn, Hailemichael; Aberra, Hanna; Berhe, Nega; Mekasha, Bitsatab; Stene-Johansen, Kathrine & Krarup, Henrik [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). Treatment of chronic hepatitis B in sub-Saharan Africa: 1-year results of a pilot program in Ethiopia. BMC Medicine. ISSN 1741-7015. 16. doi: 10.1186/s12916-018-1229-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Orlien, Stian; Ahmed, Tekabe Abdosh; Ismael, Nejib Yusuf; Berhe, Nega; Lauritzen, Trine & Gundersen, Svein Gunnar [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2018). High Seroprevalence of Autoantibodies Typical of Autoimmune Liver Disease in Eastern Ethiopia: Is Chewing of Khat (Catha edulis) a Triggering Factor? Canadian journal of gastroenterology & hepatology. ISSN 2291-2789. p. 1–10. doi: 10.1155/2018/4980597.
• Azab, Mohammed; Al-Shudifat, Abdel-Ellah; Johannessen, Asgeir; Al-Shdaifat, Amjad; Agraib, Lana & Tayyem, Reema (2018). Are Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease Different in Persons with and Without Obesity? Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders. ISSN 1540-4196. 16(8), p. 440–445. doi: 10.1089/met.2017.0152.
• Al-Shudifat, Abdel-Ellah; Azab, Mohammed; Johannessen, Asgeir; Al-Shdaifat, Amjad; Agraib, Lana & Tayyem, Reema (2018). Elevated fasting blood glucose, but not obesity, is associated with coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography in a referral hospital in Jordan. Annals of Saudi Medicine. ISSN 0256-4947. 38(2), p. 111–117. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2018.111.
• Orlien, Stian; Sandven, Irene; Berhe, Nega; Ismael, Nejib Yusuf; Ahmed, Tekabe Abdosh & Stene-Johansen, Kathrine [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). Khat chewing increases the risk for developing chronic liver disease: A hospital-based case-control study. Hepatology. ISSN 0270-9139. 68(1), p. 248–257. doi: 10.1002/hep.29809.
• Aberra, Hanna; Gordien, Emmanuel; Desalegn, Hailemichael; Berhe, Nega; Medhin, Girmay & Mekasha, Bitsatab [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2018). Hepatitis delta virus infection in a large cohort of chronic hepatitis B patients in Ethiopia. Liver international (Print). ISSN 1478-3223. 38(6), p. 1000–1009. doi: 10.1111/liv.13607.
• Orlien, Stian Magnus Staurung; Ismael, Nejib Yusuf; Ahmed, Tekabe Abdosh; Berhe, Nega; Lauritzen, Trine & Roald, Borghild [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2018). Unexplained chronic liver disease in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Gastroenterology. ISSN 1471-230X. 18(1). doi: 10.1186/s12876-018-0755-5. Full text in Research Archive
• Tayyem, Reema; Al-Shudifat, Abdel-Ellah; Johannessen, Asgeir; Bawadi, H A; AbuMweis, Suhad Sameer & Agraib, Lana [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2017). Dietary patterns and the risk of coronary heart disease among Jordanians: A case–control study. NMCD. Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. ISSN 0939-4753. 28(3), p. 262–269. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2017.10.026.
• Al-Shudifat, Abdel-Ellah; Johannessen, Asgeir; Azab, Mohammed; Al-Shdaifat, Amjad; AbuMweis, Suhad Sameer & Agraib, Lana [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Risk factors for coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography in Jordan. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. ISSN 1471-2261. 17(1). doi: 10.1186/s12872-017-0620-4.
• Al-Shudifat, Abdel-Ellah; Al-Shdaifat, Amjad; Al-Abdouh, Ahmad Ali; Aburoman, Mohammad Ibrahim; Otoum, Sara Mohammad & Sweedan, Amro Ghaleb [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2017). Diabetes Risk Score in a Young Student Population in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Diabetes Research. ISSN 2314-6745. 2017. doi: 10.1155/2017/8290710.
• Desalegn, Hailemichael; Aberra, Hanna; Berhe, Nega; Gundersen, Svein Gunnar & Johannessen, Asgeir (2017). Are non-invasive fibrosis markers for chronic hepatitis B reliable in sub-Saharan Africa? Liver international (Print). ISSN 1478-3223. 37(10), p. 1461–1467. doi: 10.1111/liv.13393.
• Aberra, Hanna; Desalegn, Hailemichael; Berhe, Nega; Medhin, Girmay; Stene-Johansen, Kathrine & Gundersen, Svein Gunnar [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Early experiences from one of the first treatment programs for chronic hepatitis B in sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334. 17(1). doi: 10.1186/s12879-017-2549-8. Full text in Research Archive
• Stene-Johansen, Kathrine; Yaqoob, Nadeem; Øverbø, Joakim; Aberra, Hanna; Desalegn, Hailemichael & Berhe, Nega [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2016). Dry blood spots a reliable method for measurement of Hepatitis B viral load in resource-limited settings. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 11(11). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166201. Full text in Research Archive
• Johannessen, Asgeir (2015). Where we are with point-of-care testing. Journal of Viral Hepatitis. ISSN 1352-0504. 22(4), p. 362–365. doi: 10.1111/jvh.12385.
• Pettersen, Pernille; Brox, Ida Katarina; Naman, Ezra; Bruun, Johan N; Dyrhol-Riise, Anne Ma & Trøseid, Marius [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2015). Antiretroviral treatment failure predicts mortality in rural Tanzania. International Journal of STD and AIDS. ISSN 0956-4624. 26(9), p. 633–639. doi: 10.1177/0956462414548460.
• Brantsæter, Arne; Johannessen, Asgeir; Holberg-Petersen, Mona; Sandvik, Leiv; Naman, Ezra & Kivuyo, Sokoine [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2012). Cytomegalovirus viremia in dried blood spots is associated with an increased risk of death in HIV-infected patients: a cohort study from rural Tanzania. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1201-9712. 16(12), p. E879–E885. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2012.08.003.
• Kivuyo, Sokoine; Johannessen, Asgeir; Trøseid, Marius; Kasubi, Mabula Joseph; Gundersen, Svein Gunnar & Naman, Ezra [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2011). p24 antigen detection on dried blood spots is a feasible and reliable test for infant HIV infection in rural Tanzania. International Journal of STD and AIDS. ISSN 0956-4624. 22(12), p. 719–721. doi: 10.1258/ijsa.2009.009382.
• Johannessen, Asgeir; Garrido, Carolina; Zahonero, Natalia; Naman, Ezra & de Mendoza, Carmen (2011). HIV-1 drug resistance testing from dried blood spots collected in rural Tanzania using the ViroSeq HIV-1 Genotyping System. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. ISSN 0305-7453. 66(2), p. 260–264. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkq433.
• Johannessen, Asgeir; Naman, Ezra; Gundersen, Svein Gunnar & Bruun, Johan Nikolai (2011). Antiretroviral treatment reverses HIV-associated anemia in rural Tanzania. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334. 11. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-11-190. Full text in Research Archive
• Johannessen, Asgeir (2010). Dried blood spots in HIV monitoring: applications in resource-limited settings. Bioanalysis. ISSN 1757-6180. 2(11), p. 1893–1908. doi: 10.4155/BIO.10.120.
• Johannessen, Asgeir; Holberg-Petersen, Mona; Løvgården, Gunilla; Naman, Ezra; Ormaasen, Vidar & Matee, Mecky I [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2010). HIV type-1 drug resistance testing on dried blood spots is feasible and reliable in patients who fail antiretroviral therapy in rural Tanzania. Antiviral Therapy. ISSN 1359-6535. 15(7), p. 1003–1009. doi: 10.3851/IMP1660. Show summary

  Background: HIV type-1 (HIV-1) drug resistance testing is rarely available in resource-limited settings because of high costs and stringent requirements for storage and transport of plasma. Dried blood spots (DBS) can be a convenient alternative to plasma, but the use of DBS needs validation under field conditions. We assessed the performance of DBS in genotypic resistance testing of patients who failed first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in rural Tanzania. Methods: A total of 36 ART-experienced patients with viral loads >1,000 copies/ml (median 15,180 copies/ml [range 1,350?3,683,000]) and with various HIV-1 subtypes were selected for resistance testing. DBS were stored with desiccant at ambient temperature for a median of 29 days (range 8?89). Samples were amplified using an in-house reverse transcriptase-nested PCR method and sequenced using the ViroSeq? assay (Abbott Molecular, Des Plaines, IL, USA). DBS-derived genotypes were compared with genotypes from plasma. Results: Overall, 34 of 36 (94%) DBS specimens were successfully genotyped. In the protease region, of 142 polymorphisms found in plasma, 132 (93%) were also detected in DBS. In the reverse transcriptase region, of 57 clinically relevant mutations present in plasma, 51 (89%) were also detected in DBS. A total of 30 of 34 (88%) patients had identical resistance profiles to antiretroviral drugs in plasma and DBS. Conclusions: Genotyping was successful in the vast majority of DBS specimens stored at ambient temperature for up to 3 months, and there was high concordance between mutations found in DBS and plasma. Our study suggests that DBS can be a feasible and reliable tool to monitor HIV-1 drug resistance in patients on ART in resource-limited settings.

• Bratholm, Clara Sofie; Johannessen, Asgeir; Naman, Ezra; Gundersen, Svein Gunnar; Kivuyo, Sokoine & Holberg-Petersen, Mona [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2010). Drug resistance is widespread among children who receive long-term antiretroviral treatment at a rural Tanzanian hospital. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. ISSN 0305-7453. 65(9), p. 1996–2000. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkq234. Full text in Research Archive
• Johannessen, Asgeir; Naman, Ezra; Kivuyo, Sokoine; Kasubi, Mabula J.; Holberg-Petersen, Mona & Matee, M. [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2009). Virological efficacy and emergence of drug resistance in adults on antiretroviral treatment in rural Tanzania. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334. 9. Show summary

  Conclusion: Virological suppression rates were good up to 4 years after initiating ART in a rural Tanzanian hospital. However, drug resistance increased with time, and dual-class resistance was common, raising concerns about exhaustion of future antiretroviral drug options. This study might provide a useful forecast of drug resistance and demand for second-line antiretroviral drugs in rural Africa in the coming years.

• Johannessen, Asgeir; Garrido, Carolina; Zahonero, Natalia; Sandvik, Leiv; Naman, Ezra & Kivuyo, Sokoine [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2009). Dried Blood Spots Perform Well in Viral Load Monitoring of Patients Who Receive Antiretroviral Treatment in Rural Tanzania. Clinical Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1058-4838. 49(6), p. 976–981. doi: 10.1086/605502. Show summary

  Conclusions. DBS, in combination with the NucliSENS EasyQ HIV-1 v1.2 asay, performed well in monitoring HIV viral loads in patients who received ART in rural Tanzania, although the sensitivity was reduced when viral burden was low. The use of DBS can simplify virological monitoring in resource-limited settings.

• Johannessen, Asgeir; Trøseid, Marius & Calmy, Alexandra (2009). Dried blood spots can expand access to virological monitoring of HIV treatment in resource-limited settings. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. ISSN 0305-7453. 64(6), p. 1126–1129. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkp353.
• Johannessen, Asgeir; Naman, Ezra; Kivuyo, Sokoine; Kasubi, Mabula; Holberg-Petersen, Mona & Matee, Mecky I [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2009). Virological efficacy and emergence of drug resistance in adults on antiretroviral treatment in rural Tanzania. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334. 9. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-9-108.
• Johannessen, Asgeir; Garrido, Carolina; Zahonero, Natalia; Sandvik, Leiv; Naman, Ezra & Kivuyo, Sokoine [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2009). Dried Blood Spots perform well in viral load monitoring of patients who receive antiretroviral treatment in rural Tanzania. Clinical Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1058-4838. 49, p. 976–981. doi: 10.1086/605502.
• Johannessen, Asgeir; Naman, Ezra; Ngowi, Bernhard J; Sandvik, Leif; Matee, M. & Aglen, Henry E [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2008). Predictors of mortality in HIV-infected patients starting antiretroviral therapy in a rural hospital in Tanzania. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334. 8. Show summary

  Conclusion: Mortality was found to be high, with the majority of deaths occurring within 3 months of starting ART. Anemia, thrombocytopenia and severe malnutrition were strong independent predictors of mortality. A prognostic model based on hemoglobin level appears to be a useful tool for initial risk assessment in resource-limited settings.

• Johannessen, Asgeir; Naman, Ezra; Ngowi, Bernard; Sandvik, Leiv; Matee, Mecky I & Aglen, Henry [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2008). Predictors of mortality in HIV-infected patients starting antiretroviral therapy in a rural hospital in Tanzania. BMC Infectious Diseases. ISSN 1471-2334.

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• Johannessen, Asgeir; Aberra, Hanna; Desalegn, Hailemichael; Gordien, Emmanuel & Berhe, Nega (2019). A novel score to select patients for treatment in chronic hepatitis B: Results from a large Ethiopian cohort. . Journal of Hepatology. ISSN 0168-8278. 71(4), p. 840–841. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.04.006.
• Orlien, Stian; Berhe, Nega; Morgan, Marsha Yvonne & Johannessen, Asgeir (2019). Khat-related liver disease in sub-Saharan Africa: neglected, yet important. The Lancet Global Health. ISSN 2572-116X. 7(3), p. e310–e310. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X%2818%2930527-8.
• Desalegn, Hailemichael & Johannessen, Asgeir (2017). Response to Non-invasive fibrosis markers for chronic hepatitis B in sub-Saharan Africa. Liver international (Print). ISSN 1478-3223. 37(11), p. 1739–1739. doi: 10.1111/liv.13425.
• Johannessen, Asgeir & Lemoine, Maud (2015). Is aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index a reliable tool in human immunodeficiency virus patients in Africa? Liver international (Print). ISSN 1478-3223. 35(8), p. 2059–2059. doi: 10.1111/liv.12793.
• Johannessen, Asgeir (2011). Drug resistance is widespread among children who receive long-term antiretroviral treatment at a rural Tanzanian hospital-author's response. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. ISSN 0305-7453. 66(4), p. 957–958. doi: 10.1093/jac/dkr042.
• Johannessen, Asgeir (2011). Are men the losers of the antiretroviral treatment scale-up? AIDS (London). ISSN 0269-9370. 25(9), p. 1225–1226. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32834403b8.
• Johannessen, Asgeir (2010). Quantification of HIV-1 RNA on dried blood spots. AIDS (London). ISSN 0269-9370. 24(3), p. 475–476. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3283365383.
• Trøseid, Marius & Johannessen, Asgeir (2010). Et skritt i riktig retning. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. ISSN 0029-2001. 130(22).
• Johannessen, Asgeir (2011). Antiretroviral treatment of HIV/AIDS in rural Tanzania : long-term outcome and simplified monitoring tools. Unipub forlag. ISSN 978-82-8264-128-9.

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