Elevated Fecal Biomarkers of Colo-Rectal Epithelial Cell Activity in Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastro-intestinal disorder characterized by discomfort with constipation and/or diarrhea with unclear pathophysiology. We aimed to determine the activities of colorectal eosinophils, neutrophils and epithelial cells by biomarkers in feces reflecting these activities.

Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 185 patients with IBS before and after 8 weeks of placebo or mesalazine treatment and from 40 healthy subjects.

Standard mortality rates and years of life lost for serologically defined adult-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes - A fifteen year follow-up.

Aims: The Diabetes Incidence in Kronoberg (DIK) study of adult-onset diabetes used serological classification. Standard Mortality Rates (SMR) and Years of Life Lost (YLL) 15 years after adult-onset (18-100 years) of diabetes were compared to the population of Kronoberg.

Methods: Of 1609/1660 (97%) patients, 112 (7%) had type 1 (T1D) (GADA and/or ICA, and/or C-peptide < 0.

[Physicians see both pros and cons of health care financial management. Questionnaire study provides more insights--with starting point in controversial DN-article series].

In the spring of 2013, the Swedish journalist Maciej Zaremba wrote a series of articles criticizing the impact of NPM (New Public Management) on Swedish health care. The present study examines the views of experienced Swedish physicians (general practitioners and internal medicine speclialists) on the problems focused in Mr Zaremba's article series. The respondents (51 general practitioners and 61 internal medicine specialists) mention advantages as well as disadvantages with NPM in Swedish health care.

Reliability and applicability of the Patient Enablement Instrument (PEI) in a Swedish general practice setting.

Background: The Patient Enablement Instrument (PEI), which has been used to evaluate core ingredients in primary care consultations, has been proposed as a means of moving beyond patient satisfaction evaluations. The aim of the present study was to examine the reliability and applicability of the PEI to the Swedish context.

Methods: The original PEI was translated to Swedish and included in a questionnaire that was given to consecutively scheduled patients in four primary care settings.

Levels of C-peptide, body mass index and age, and their usefulness in classification of diabetes in relation to autoimmunity, in adults with newly diagnosed diabetes in Kronoberg, Sweden.

Objective: C-peptide is a main outcome measure in treatment trials of diabetes. C-peptide also has a role in the classification of diabetes, which is often difficult in adults and this is also increasingly recognised in adolescents and elders.

Aim: We aimed to describe the levels of C-peptide in relation to age and body mass index (BMI) in a large population-based cohort of adults with newly diagnosed diabetes and compare the capabilities of C-peptide, age and BMI to discriminate between autoimmune and non-autoimmune diabetes.

β-cell function and metabolic control in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults with early insulin versus conventional treatment: a 3-year follow-up.

Objectives: The optimal treatment of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is not established. We explored whether early insulin treatment, which has shown beneficial effects in rodents and in human pilot studies, would result in better preservation of β-cell function or metabolic control, compared with conventional treatment.

Subjects And Methods: Glucagon-stimulated C-peptide and HbAlc were evaluated at baseline and after 12, 24 and 36 months in 37 patients recently diagnosed with diabetes, aged ≥ 30 years, non-insulin-requiring and GADAb and/or ICA positive.

Infectious morbidity in 18-month-old children with and without older siblings.

Background: Infections are the most commonly reported health problems in children. Younger age and day care outside the home are two factors of importance for infectious morbidity. The influence of siblings on infectious symptoms is not clear.

Hip and fragility fracture prediction by 4-item clinical risk score and mobile heel BMD: a women cohort study.

Background: One in four Swedish women suffers a hip fracture yielding high morbidity and mortality. We wanted to revalidate a 4-item clinical risk score and evaluate a portable heel bone mineral density (BMD) technique regarding hip and fragility fracture risk among elderly women.

Methods: In a population-based prospective cohort study we used clinical risk factors from a baseline questionnaire and heel BMD to predict a two-year hip and fragility fracture outcome for women, in a fracture preventive program.

Alcohol-based hand-disinfection reduced children's absence from Swedish day care centers.

Aim: To determine if the use of alcohol-based hand-disinfection as a complement to regular hand washing at daycare centers (DCCs) can reduce the childhood rate of absenteeism.

Methods: Children aged 0-6 years attending DCC were studied in a cluster randomized controlled trial during 30 weeks. Thirty matched pairs of DCCs were included in the study, where one of the DCCs was randomized to intervention and the other to control within each pair.

More physician consultations and antibiotic prescriptions in families with high concern about infectious illness--adequate response to infection-prone child or self-fulfilling prophecy?

Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTI) in children is the most common cause of prescription of antibiotics. It is important to describe and analyse non-medical factors in order to develop more rational use of antibiotics.

Objectives: To compare families with high and low concern about infectious illness with regard to social variables, perception of infection proneness and beliefs in antibiotics and to relate the concern for infectious illness to reported morbidity, physician consultations and antibiotic prescriptions for the 18-month-old child in the family.