Prevalence and pathophysiological mechanisms of elevated cardiac troponin I levels in a population-based sample of elderly subjects.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) elevation in an elderly community population and the association of cTnI levels with cardiovascular risk factors, vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis, cardiac performance, and areas indicative of infarcted myocardium identified by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods And Results: cTnI elevation defined as cTnI levels >0.01 microg/L (Access AccuTnI, Beckman Coulter) was found in 21.

Factors that influence the use of ambulance in acute coronary syndrome.

Background: National guidelines recommend activation of the emergency medical service by patients who have symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In spite of this, only 50% to 60% of persons with myocardial infarction initiate care by using the emergency medical service. The aim of this study was to define factors influencing the use of ambulance in ACS.

Adjuvant tamoxifen in breast cancer patients affects the endometrium by time, an effect remaining years after end of treatment and results in an increased frequency of endometrial carcinoma.

Tamoxifen is the most used adjuvant drug in breast cancer treatment. Its main action is as an anti-oestrogen, but in the endometrium of some patients it acts as an oestrogen. Some investigators have even reported an increased risk of developing endometrial carcinoma.

A student-centered clinical educational unit--description of a reflective learning model.

This article describes a model of a student-centered Clinical Education Unit (CEU) within an undergraduate nursing education programme. The model comprises three various levels of learning in the nursing education programme at School of Health Sciences, University College of Borås, Sweden. The three levels of learning correspond to the first, second and third programme years of the nursing education.

Ischemic stroke and shift work.

Objectives: This study analyzed the potential association between shift work and ischemic stroke.

Methods: The analysis was carried out using a nested case-control study consisting of 138 shift workers and 469 day workers from the register of the Northern Sweden Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Diseases (MONICA) study and the Västerbotten Intervention Programme. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk estimate for day workers in a comparison with shift workers and the risk of ischemic stroke.

Fatty acid profile of the erythrocyte membrane preceding development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background And Aims: The respective roles of dietary fatty acids in the pathogenesis of diabetes are as yet unclear. Erythrocyte membrane fatty acid (EMFA) composition may provide an estimate of dietary fatty acid intake. This study investigates the relation between EMFA composition and development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Thoughts, actions, and factors associated with prehospital delay in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: The objective was to study patients' interpretations, thoughts, and actions after symptom onset in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in total and in relation to gender, age, history of coronary artery disease, type of syndrome, and residential area and its influence on prehospital delay.

Setting: We performed a national survey comprising intensive cardiac care units at 11 hospitals in Sweden.

Method: A total of 1,939 patients with diagnosed ACS and symptom onset outside hospital completed a questionnaire containing standardized questions within 3 days after admission.

Growth-differentiation factor-15 improves risk stratification in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: Growth-differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a transforming growth factor-beta-related cytokine that is induced in the heart following ischaemia-reperfusion injury. We explored the prognostic utility of GDF-15 in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) receiving fibrinolytic therapy.

Methods And Results: Circulating levels of GDF-15 were determined by an immunoradiometric assay in 741 STEMI patients who were included in the Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of a New Thrombolytic (ASSENT)-2 and ASSENT-plus trials.

Persistent cardiac troponin I elevation in stabilized patients after an episode of acute coronary syndrome predicts long-term mortality.

Background: In patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome, any troponin elevation is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events. However, the prevalence and prognostic importance of persistent troponin elevation in stabilized patients after an episode of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome are unknown and were therefore assessed in this study.

Methods And Results: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was measured in 1092 stabilized patients at 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months after enrollment in the FRagmin and Fast Revascularization during InStability in Coronary artery disease (FRISC-II) trial.

Patients with burnout in relation to gender and a general population.

Aims: The aims of this study were to describe gender differences in patients with burnout and compare these patients with a general population with respect to physical, psychosocial and work variables.

Methods: Data were collected from a total of 136 patients (96 women and 40 men, 41.6 +/- 7.

Growth differentiation factor 15 for risk stratification and selection of an invasive treatment strategy in non ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Background: An invasive treatment strategy improves outcome in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome at moderate to high risk. We hypothesized that the circulating level of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) may improve risk stratification.

Methods And Results: The Fast Revascularization during InStability in Coronary artery disease II (FRISC-II) trial randomized patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome to an invasive or conservative strategy with a follow-up for 2 years.

Prospective malignancy grading of invasive squamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Prognostic significance in a long-term follow-up.

A multifactorial grading score (MGS) for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix has demonstrated its capacity to predict survival in a 5-10 year perspective and metastasis frequencies, and is a valuable tool for treatment schedules. In this study it was shown that the power of prognosis is valid even up to 20 years. In this material from 619 cervical carcinoma patients the MGS scores turned out to remain as strong as earlier proven.

Raised interleukin-10 is an indicator of poor outcome and enhanced systemic inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objectives: To re-evaluate the relation between plasma interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentration at hospital admission and outcome and to investigate the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the IL-10 gene in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Design: Determination of IL-10 plasma concentrations and genotyping of SNPs in the IL-10 gene in a prospective trial of patients with ACS and in a group of healthy controls.

Patients: 3179 patients in the Fragmin and fast revascularisation during InStability in Coronary artery disease II (FRISC II) trial and 393 healthy controls.

Digoxin and mortality in atrial fibrillation: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: The Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) study showed that rhythm-control treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) offered no survival advantage over a rate-control strategy. In a subgroup analysis of that study, it was found that digoxin increased the death rate [relative risk (RR) = 1.42), but it was suggested that this may have been attributable to prescription of digoxin for patients at greater risk of death, such as those with congestive heart failure (CHF).

Risk prediction in chest pain patients by biochemical markers including estimates of renal function.

Background: Early risk stratification of patients with chest pain may be improved by combining cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) results and ECG findings with markers of left-ventricular dysfunction, inflammation or renal function.

Methods: Serial measurements of cTnI were prospectively performed in 452 chest pain patients with a non-diagnostic ECG for AMI and admitted to the coronary care unit. NT-pro BNP, CRP, cystatin C and creatinine-clearance were retrospectively analyzed in admission samples.

Components of metabolic syndrome predicting diabetes: no role of inflammation or dyslipidemia.

Objective: The diagnostic criteria and the clinical usefulness of the metabolic syndrome (MetSy) are currently questioned. The objective was to describe the structure of MetSy and to evaluate its components for prediction of diabetes type 2 (T2DM).

Research Methods And Procedures: This was a case-referent study nested within a population-based health survey.

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelial exudates on soil bacterial growth and community structure.

Plant root systems colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi have previously been shown to influence soil bacterial populations; however, the direct influence of the AM extraradical mycelium itself on bacterial growth and community composition is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of exudates produced by AM extraradical mycelia on the growth and development of an extracted soil bacterial community in vitro. The chemical composition of the mycelial exudates was analysed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry.

Patients' and relatives' thoughts and actions during and after symptom presentation for an acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Relatives play an important role in deciding to seek medical care after the onset of symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Objective: The aim of this study was to gain deeper understanding of how AMI patients and their relatives think and act during and after onset of symptoms.

Methods: Six focus group interviews were conducted with AMI patients (N=13) and relatives (N=14).

Prospective study of hyperglycemia and cancer risk.

Objective: To investigate whether hyperglycemia is associated with increased cancer risk.

Research Design And Methods: In the Västerbotten Intervention Project of northern Sweden, fasting and postload plasma glucose concentrations were available for 33,293 women and 31,304 men and 2,478 incident cases of cancer were identified. Relative risk (RR) of cancer for levels of fasting and postload glucose was calculated with the use of Poisson models, with adjustment for age, year of recruitment, fasting time, and smoking status.