Persistent impaired emotional functioning in survivors of a myocardial infarction?

The quality of life (QoL) of survivors of a myocardial infarction (MI) remains lower than that of their peers long after the acute event. Previous research on this subject has indicated, however, that this difference might lessen somewhat over time for the dimension 'emotional functioning' (as measured by the sickness impact profile (SIP): a generic instrument for QoL). The present study explores this phenomenon further using two instruments that specifically measure emotional functioning i.

Computer-assisted health impact assessment for intersectoral health policy.

Intersectoral health policy implies negotiations with politicians outside the health sector. Health politicians have a stronger position if they can quantify health impact. In this Dutch case-study we used a computer simulation approach to answer the following questions: Which anti-tobacco intervention has the largest health gain? Will a commuter cycling policy result in any substantial health gain? What is the relative health gain of promoting higher consumption of vegetables and fruit? We concluded that substantial health gain can be achieved if cigarette packet price were to increase by 2 Dutch guilders.

Major stressful life events in relation to prevalence of undetected type 2 diabetes: the Hoorn Study.

Objective: To test whether chronic psychological stress is positively associated 1) with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes; 2) with visceral adiposity; and to test whether 3) the relationship between stress and diabetes is mainly mediated by visceral adiposity

Research Design And Methods: In a general Caucasian population aged 50-74 years without a history of diabetes (n = 2,262), the number of major stressful life events experienced during the past 5 years was assessed by self-report before the administration of an oral glucose tolerance test.

Results: Diabetes was newly diagnosed among 5% of the subjects. The number of stressful events was positively associated with the prevalence of hitherto undetected diabetes.

Leptin and variables of body adiposity, energy balance, and insulin resistance in a population-based study. The Hoorn Study.

Objective: Leptin is thought to play a key role in the control of body weight. There is a complex interrelationship between leptin and insulin or insulin resistance, but it is unknown how leptin is regulated. We therefore explored, in a large population-based study of 2,484 Caucasian subjects aged 50-74 years, the relationship between leptin and variables of body adiposity, energy balance, and insulin resistance.