Birth outcomes and pregnancy complications in women with a history of anorexia nervosa.

Objective: To examine birth outcomes and pregnancy complications in women with a history of anorexia nervosa.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Nationwide study in Sweden.

Contraceptive use and pregnancy risk among U.S. high school students, 1991-2003.

Context: Trends in teenagers' contraceptive use have received less attention than trends in adolescent sexual intercourse, despite the importance of contraceptive use to preventing teenage pregnancy.

Methods: Sexually active high school students' use of contraceptives and risk of pregnancy from 1991 to 2003 were examined using data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey and published contraceptive failure rates. Changes in pregnancy risk were assessed using weighted least-squares regression.

Feeding disorders related to nutrition.

Aim: To study the relationship between early feeding disorders and nutritional intake during the second and third year of life.

Methods: 15 children, nine girls and six boys, with a feeding problem identified at the Specialist Child Health Care Unit at a mean age of 14.5 mo were matched with respect to age and sex with healthy control children.

Heart transplantation across antibodies against human leukocyte antigen and ABO-post-transplant follow-up of donor reactive antibodies.

Background: We have successfully performed heart transplantation despite the most unfavourable risk factors for graft and patient survival: the presence of a high level of antibodies (Abs) against the donor's human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class I/II and blood group A1 antigens. The present study concerns post-transplant follow-up and characterization of donor reactive antibodies (DRA).

Methods: Pre-transplant treatment consisted of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), prednisolone, tacrolimus, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), rituximab, protein-A immunoadsorption (PAIA) and per-operative plasma exchange.

Dialysis dose (Kt/V) and clearance variation sensitivity using measurement of ultraviolet-absorbance (on-line), blood urea, dialysate urea and ionic dialysance.

Background: An on-line monitoring system for dialysis dose calculations could make it possible to provide an adequate dialysis dose that is consistently given to haemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to compare dialysis dose (Kt/V) using four different methods and their sensitiveness to a reduction in clearance.

Methods: Six patients were monitored on-line with ultraviolet (UV)-absorbance at a wavelength of 297 nm in three consecutive dialysis sessions during 1 week.

The provision and funding of contraceptive services at publicly funded family planning agencies: 1995-2003.

Context: Publicly funded family planning agencies face significant challenges in delivering quality services to low-income women because of the higher costs of newer contraceptive methods, changes in health care financing and a growing uninsured population.

Methods: In 2003, 627 of a nationally representative sample of 956 U.S.

Identification of antibodies against HAI-1 and integrin alpha6beta4 as immunohistochemical markers of human villous cytotrophoblast.

Syncytiotrophoblast and invasive extravillous trophoblast arise from a common stem cell, namely villous cytotrophoblast, but have very different characteristics. The study of the differentiation process relies on the availability of suitable markers for these different cell types of developing placenta. In this work, we have produced monoclonal antibodies that are specific to human villous cytotrophoblast.

Long-term influence of a health education programme on knowledge and health behaviour in children.

Background: Aiming at an active lifestyle, healthy food habits and non-smoking among Swedish children, the Swedish Heart Lung Foundation initiated the health educational programme 'An adventure with Pelle Pump'. A study kit, including theoretical and practical material on heart-lung function and healthy behaviour, was offered to all fourth graders in Sweden. The impact of the programme was examined by studying health behaviours and health knowledge among programme participants using non-participants as a control population.

Heart transplantation across the antibodies against HLA and ABO.

We have intentionally performed heart transplantation in a 5-year-old child, despite the most unfavourable risk factors for patient survival; the presence of high level of antibodies against donor's human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I/II and blood group antigens. Pretransplant treatment by mycophenolate mofetil, prednisolone, tacrolimus, intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab, protein-A immunoadsorption (IA) and plasma exchange reduced antibody titres against the donor's lymphocytes from 128 to 16 and against the donor's blood group antigen from 256 to 0. The patient was urgently transplanted with a heart from an ABO incompatible donor (A(1) to O).

Different patterns of blood flow response in the trapezius muscle following needle stimulation (acupuncture) between healthy subjects and patients with fibromyalgia and work-related trapezius myalgia.

Needle stimulation (acupuncture) has recently been shown to increase blood flow in the tibialis anterior muscle and overlying skin in healthy subjects (HS) and patients with fibromyalgia (FM). The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of needle stimulation on local blood flow in the trapezius muscle and overlying skin in HS and two groups of patients suffering from chronic pain in the trapezius muscle, i.e.

Estimating total urea removal and protein catabolic rate by monitoring UV absorbance in spent dialysate.

Background: Dialysate-based, on-line measurements of Kt/V and protein catabolic rate (PCR) in dialysis patients have been considered more accurate compared with measurements on the blood side during dialysis. The primary aim of this study was to compare total removed urea (TRU) and PCR, normalized to body weight (nPCRw), obtained by three dialysate-based methods: (i) on-line ultraviolet (UV) absorbance of the spent dialysate; (ii) total dialysate collection (TDC), as reference method; and (iii) Urea Monitor 1000 (UM) from Baxter Healthcare Corp.

Methods: We studied 10 uraemic patients on chronic, thrice-weekly haemodialysis.

Automatic ankle pressure measurements using PPG in ankle-brachial pressure index determination.

Objective: To evaluate a new technique using a photoplethysmographic (PPG) probe for automatic ankle pressure measurements.

Design: Comparative study on two techniques for ankle pressure measurement.

Setting: University hospital.

Non-invasive monitoring of muscle blood perfusion by photoplethysmography: evaluation of a new application.

Aim: To evaluate a specially developed photoplethysmographic (PPG) technique, using green and near-infrared light sources, for simultaneous non-invasive monitoring of skin and muscle perfusion.

Methods: Evaluation was based on assessments of changes in blood perfusion to various provocations, such as post-exercise hyperaemia and hyperaemia following the application of liniment. The deep penetrating feature of PPG was investigated by measurement of optical radiation inside the muscle.

A new probe for ankle systolic pressure measurement using photoplethysmography (PPG).

An automated method for ankle systolic pressure measurement, less operator dependent than the standard continuous wave (CW) Doppler technique, would imply an advantage both in patient measurements and in epidemiological studies. We present a new photoplethysmographic (PPG) probe that uses near-infrared light (880 nm) to detect pulsatory blood flow underneath the distal end of a standard pneumatic cuff. The probe is adapted to the anatomical conditions at the ankle, permitting recording of pressures in both ankle arteries separately.

Non-invasive measurement of systolic blood pressure on the arm utilising photoplethysmography: development of the methodology.

Photoplethysmography (PPG) can be used to measure systolic blood pressure at the brachial artery. With a specially designed probe, positioned in the most distal position beneath a pressure cuff on the upper arm, this is possible. The distance between the light source (880 nm) and the photodetector was 20 mm.

Neuro-evolutionary patterning of sociality.

Evolutionary shifts in species-typical group size ('sociality') probably reflect natural selection on motivational processes such as social arousal, approach-avoidance, reward, stress/anxiety and dominance. Using four songbird species that differ selectively in sociality (one territorial, one modestly gregarious, and two highly gregarious species), we here examined immediate early gene (IEG) responses of relevant brain regions following exposure to a same-sex conspecific. The paradigm limited behavioural performance, thus species differences should reflect divergence in motivational and/or perceptual processes.

Magnitude and time-course of arterio-venous differences in blood-alcohol concentration in healthy men.

Background And Objective: Human studies of arterio-venous (AV) differences in drug concentrations and the consequences for pharmacokinetic modelling and concentration-effect relationships are very limited. We therefore investigated the intravenous and intra-arterial concentrations of alcohol (ethanol) during the absorption, distribution and elimination stages of alcohol metabolism in healthy men.

Study Participants And Methods: Nine male volunteers aged 26-67 years drank 0.

Can changes in sexual behaviors among high school students explain the decline in teen pregnancy rates in the 1990s?

Purpose: To explore the utility of using national data from high school students to explain changes in national declines in pregnancy rates. Although declines in teen pregnancy and birthrates in the 1990s have been welcome news to those interested in adolescent health and welfare, the reasons for these declines are not readily apparent. Previous attempts to explain these declines focused on the period before 1995 and did not directly calculate the impact of improved contraceptive use.

Chemoarchitectonic subdivisions of the songbird septum and a comparative overview of septum chemical anatomy in jawed vertebrates.

Available data demonstrate that the avian septal region shares a number of social behavior functions and neurochemical features in common with mammals. However, the structural and functional subdivisions of the avian septum remain largely unexplored. In order to delineate chemoarchitectural zones of the avian septum, we prepared a large dataset of double-, triple-, and quadruple-labeled material in a variety of songbird species (finches and waxbills of the family Estrildidae and a limited number of emberizid sparrows) using antibodies against 10 neuropeptides and enzymes.

Antibacterial effects of knotwood extractives on paper mill bacteria.

Hydrophilic knotwood extracts from 18 wood species were assessed in disc diffusion and liquid culture tests for antibacterial effects against three species of paper mill bacteria. The Pinus sylvestris, P. resinosa, P.

Effects of central vasotocin and mesotocin manipulations on social behavior in male and female zebra finches.

Male and female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata; total n = 40) were fitted with chronic guide cannulae directed at the lateral ventricle and were tested for aggression, affiliation, and partner preference following infusions of mesotocin (MT), vasotocin (VT), their antagonists, and vehicle control. Aggressive behavior was tested in a mate competition paradigm and tests of intersexual affiliation and partner preference were conducted following 1 day of cohabitation with an opposite-sex individual. These tests also provided data on male courtship singing.

Peripheral effects of needle stimulation (acupuncture) on skin and muscle blood flow in fibromyalgia.

Acupuncture has become a widely used treatment modality in various musculoskeletal pain conditions. Acupuncture is also shown to enhance blood flow and recovery in surgical flaps. The mechanisms behind the effect on blood flow were suggested to rely on vasoactive substances, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide, released from nociceptors by the needle stimulation.

Muscle blood flow in response to concentric muscular activity vs passive venous compression.

Aim: To measure muscle blood flow (MBF) using photoplethysmography (PPG) following concentric muscular activity of the leg (active treatment) or passive venous compression (passive treatment) with or without venous obstruction.

Methods: In study A, blood flow in the anterior tibial muscle was measured in 15 healthy subjects with a mean age of 30 years. In study B, blood flow in the gastrocnemius muscle was measured in nine healthy subjects with a mean age of 34 years.

Risk factors for anorexia nervosa: a national cohort study.

Objective: To identify possible risk factors for anorexia nervosa through national registers.

Method: The study includes the entire Swedish population of 989,871 individuals born between 1973 and 1982. Patients with anorexia nervosa were identified through the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register from November 1990 to December 1999.