The relationship between weight gain during pregnancy and allopregnanolone levels: a longitudinal study.

Objective: Large weight gain during pregnancy is a risk factor for complications for mother and fetus. Hunger and satiety are regulated in the hypothalamus, where the gamma-amino-butyric acid system (GABA) has an important role. Allopregnanolone, a progesterone metabolite, increases during pregnancy and is a potent GABA-A receptor modulating steroid.

Atrial fibrillation among patients under investigation for suspected obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea is common among patients with atrial fibrillation, but the prevalence and risk factors for atrial fibrillation among patients who are being investigated on suspicion of sleep apnea are not well known. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of atrial fibrillation among patients investigated for suspected obstructive sleep apnea and to identify risk factors for atrial fibrillation among them.

Methods: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation was investigated among 201 patients referred for suspected obstructive sleep apnea.

Swedish women's food habits during pregnancy up to six months post-partum: A longitudinal study.

Objectives: Diet influences the health of the foetus and the woman during pregnancy and later in life. It is therefore important to investigate pregnant women's food habits. The aim of this study was to describe women's food habits during pregnancy and up to six months post-partum.

Vitamin D Status during Pregnancy: A Longitudinal Study in Swedish Women from Early Pregnancy to Seven Months Postpartum.

Low vitamin D levels during pregnancy may have negative consequences for the health of both the mother and child. Cross-sectional studies in childbearing women suggest that vitamin D levels are low during pregnancy, but few studies have followed the same women during pregnancy and postpartum. The aims of this study were to longitudinally assess vitamin D status during pregnancy and postpartum and identify the factors associated with vitamin D status in pregnant women in northern Sweden.

[Identification of paroxysmal, transient arrhythmias: Intermittent registration more efficient than the 24-hour Holter monitoring].

Many patients suffer from palpitations or dizziness/presyncope. These patients are often referred for Holter ECG (24 hour), although the sensitivity for detecting arrhythmias is low. A new method, short intermittent regular and symptomatic ECG registrations at home, might be a convenient and more sensitive alternative also suitable for primary health care.

Reported dietary intake in early pregnant compared to non-pregnant women - a cross-sectional study.

Background: A woman's nutritional status before conception and during pregnancy is important for maternal health and the health of the foetus. The aim of the study was to compare diet intake in early pregnant women with non-pregnant women.

Methods: Between September 2006 and March 2009, 226 women in early pregnancy were consecutively recruited at five antenatal clinics in Northern Sweden.

Remote evaluation of video-otoscopy recordings in an unselected pediatric population with an otitis media scale.

Background: A recently validated image-based grading scale for acute otitis media (OMGRADE) can be used to assess tympanic membrane (TM) status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of this scale for remote assessments of TM status using video-otoscopy recordings in an unselected pediatric population.

Method: Children 2-16 years attending a South African primary health clinic were offered an ear examination by an otologist using otomicroscopy.

Intermittent short ECG recording is more effective than 24-hour Holter ECG in detection of arrhythmias.

Background: Many patients report symptoms of palpitations or dizziness/presyncope. These patients are often referred for 24-hour Holter ECG, although the sensitivity for detecting relevant arrhythmias is comparatively low. Intermittent short ECG recording over a longer time period might be a convenient and more sensitive alternative.

Screening for atrial fibrillation with baseline and intermittent ECG recording in an out-of-hospital population.

Background: the objective of this study is to investigate the detection rate of undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) with short intermittent ECG recordings during four weeks among out-of-hospital patients, having at least one additional risk factor (CHADS2) for stroke.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Eight family practice centres and two hospital-based out-patient clinics in Sweden.

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type III (CDA III) is caused by a mutation in kinesin family member, KIF23.

Haplotype analysis and targeted next-generation resequencing allowed us to identify a mutation in the KIF23 gene and to show its association with an autosomal dominant form of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type III (CDA III). The region at 15q23 where CDA III was mapped in a large Swedish family was targeted by array-based sequence capture in a female diagnosed with CDA III and her healthy sister. Prioritization of all detected sequence changes revealed 10 variants unique for the CDA III patient.

Women's experiences of dietary advice and dietary changes during pregnancy.

Objective: To describe women's experiences of dietary information and the change of dietary habits during pregnancy.

Design: A qualitative design was used. In 2007 we conducted six focus group interviews using open-ended questions.

Development and validation of a new grading scale for otitis media.

Background: Grading of acute otitis media (AOM) is important in clinical situations as well as in research. Current grading scales for AOM have used a 6 to 9 point scoring system primarily based on variation of redness and bulging of the tympanic membrane (TM). This study aimed to develop and validate a new scale for grading AOM.

Patterns of tobacco use: a 10-year follow-up study of smoking and snus habits in a middle-aged Swedish population.

Aims: To study longitudinal patterns of tobacco use over a 10-year period among middle-aged men and women in Vaösterbotten County, Northern Sweden.

Methods: The study is based on data from the 16,486 (8800 women and 7686 men) in the Vaösterbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) where people were invited to a health screening and counselling programme at 30, 40, 50 and 60 years of age.

Results: Smoking decreased from 22.

Improvements in HbA1c remain after 5 years--a follow up of an educational intervention focusing on patients' personal understandings of type 2 diabetes.

This paper reports a 5-year follow-up from a study aimed at evaluating whether an intervention which focused on patients' personal understanding of their illness was more effective than conventional diabetes care with regard to metabolic control among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). The study was conducted within Swedish primary health care and included 102 patients (mean age 63 years). At clinic level they were randomised into control or intervention groups.

Digital imaging and telemedicine as a tool for studying inflammatory conditions in the middle ear--evaluation of image quality and agreement between examiners.

Objective: To evaluate digital imaging of the tympanic membrane by telemedicine technology and study interpersonal agreement in assessing image quality.

Methods: In an open consecutive study, 64 children aged 2-16 years who attended three rural health care centres in Northern Sweden with otalgia were examined with video endoscopic photography of their tympanic membrane in a telemedical environment. One hundred and twenty-four images were stored in a central database and later assessed independently regarding image quality by an ENT specialist, a general practitioner and a registrar in general practice.

Medical text-based consultations on the Internet: a 4-year study.

Background: The Internet is increasingly used for health matters including Ask the doctor services.

Aim: To describe users and usage pattern of text-based medical consultation with family physicians on the Internet.

Methods: Descriptive analysis of the first 4 years' use of a Swedish Ask the doctor service concerning number of inquiries, age and gender of inquirers.

Patient satisfaction with diabetes care.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to report the findings of a study that elucidated the experiences and reflections of people with type 2 diabetes about clinical encounters.

Background: Several patient satisfaction surveys have focused on privacy, cheerfulness and amenities rather than on how the care was delivered. A great deal of research has also focused on communication and various consultation styles, particularly within health promotion and diabetes care, but how these factors tie up with patient satisfaction has rarely been discussed.

Metabolic improvement after intervention focusing on personal understanding in type 2 diabetes.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to evaluate, whether an educational intervention, focusing on patients' personal understanding of their illness, was more effective than care given according to national guidelines for diabetes care.

Methods: An intervention group (n = 44), with type 2 diabetes was compared with a control group (n = 60), with HbA1c as the primary outcome. The intervention included ten group sessions addressing themes related to the patients' personal understanding of their illness.

[8 out of 10 midwives informed about folic acid. Most of them considered their knowledge about folic acid not sufficient].

Unlabelled: Deficiency of folic acid increases the risk for neural tube defects among newborn children and megaloblastic anaemia in the mother. The aim of this study was to make a survey of how midwives working in maternity health care, family planning guidance, and specialist prenatal care in a Swedish county inform women of childbearing age about folic acid. The questionnaire study showed that 79% of the midwives informed the women about folic acid.

Sex differences in cobalamin vitamin B12 opinions of Swedish physicians.

The aim of the study was to elucidate possible sex differences in knowledge, competence and attitudes behind decision-making on cobalamin-associated problems (vitamin B(12)). The study was conducted by postal questionnaires to Swedish physicians in 1996-98. The participants were recruited by random sampling of general practitioners (1996, 1998), and a total sampling of geriatricians (1998).