Body dysmorphic disorder in female Swedish dermatology patients.

Background: Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are highly distressed and impaired owing to perceived defects in their physical appearance that are not noticeable to others. They are frequently concerned about their skin and often present to dermatologists rather than psychiatrists. However, BDD patients attending dermatology clinics may be at risk of not receiving an appropriate assessment and beneficial treatment.

Spectrophotometric analysis of melanocytic naevi during pregnancy.

Malignant melanoma is the most common cancer during pregnancy, but it is unknown whether melanocytic naevi in general are activated. A total of 381 melanocytic naevi in 34 Caucasian primigravidae were examined using spectrophotometric intracutaneous analysis (SIAscopy) technology in early pregnancy and prior to delivery. The Siagraphs of each naevus were then compared in order to evaluate changes over time.

Effects of acupuncture, applied relaxation, estrogens and placebo on hot flushes in postmenopausal women: an analysis of two prospective, parallel, randomized studies.

Objective: To assess if transdermal or oral estrogens, acupuncture and applied relaxation decrease the number of menopausal hot flushes/24 h and improve climacteric symptoms, as assessed by the Kupperman index, more than transdermal placebo treatment.

Setting: An outpatient clinic at a Swedish university hospital.

Methods: A total of 102 postmenopausal women were recruited to two studies performed in parallel.

Psychological well-being improves in women with breast cancer after treatment with applied relaxation or electro-acupuncture for vasomotor symptom.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of applied relaxation and electro-acupuncture (EA) on psychological well-being in breast cancer-treated women with vasomotor symptoms. Thirty-eight breast cancer-treated postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms were included in the study. They were randomized to either treatment with electro-acupuncture (EA) (n = 19, three of them with tamoxifen) or applied relaxation (AR) (n = 19, five of them with tamoxifen) over a 12-week study period with six months follow-up.

Vasomotor symptoms decrease in women with breast cancer randomized to treatment with applied relaxation or electro-acupuncture: a preliminary study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of applied relaxation and electro-acupuncture on vasomotor symptoms in women treated for breast cancer.

Methods: Thirty-eight postmenopausal women with breast cancer and vasomotor symptoms were randomized to treatment with electro-acupuncture (n = 19) or applied relaxation (n = 19) during 12 weeks. The number of hot flushes was registered daily in a logbook before and during treatment and after 3 and 6 months of follow-up.

Applied relaxation and oral estradiol treatment of vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate and compare the effects of applied relaxation and oral estradiol treatment on hot flushes, mood and psychological wellbeing in postmenopausal women.

Patients And Methods: In a prospective study, 30 postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms were randomized to applied relaxation or oral estradiol treatment during 12 weeks with 6 months follow-up. Number and severity of flushes were registered daily and Kupperman's Index and a general estimate of climacteric symptoms, Mood Scale and Symptom Check List were completed at baseline, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, and 3 and 6 months after therapy.

A comparison of acupuncture and oral estradiol treatment of vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To compare the effects of electro-acupuncture with oral estradiol and superficial needle insertion on hot flushes in postmenopausal women.

Material And Methods: Forty-five postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms were randomized to electro-acupuncture, superficial needle insertion or oral estradiol treatment during 12 weeks, with 6 months' follow-up. The number and severity of flushes were registered daily and the Kupperman index and a general estimate of climacteric symptoms were completed before, during and after therapy.

[Few alternatives to estrogen replacement therapy for vegetative symptoms after menopause].

Vasomotor symptoms with hot flushes and sweating are reported by about 75 percent of women around menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the treatment of choice but some women have medical contraindications or side effects. There is, therefore, a need of alternative therapies.

Vasomotor symptoms and quality of life in previously sedentary postmenopausal women randomised to physical activity or estrogen therapy.

Objective: To assess if regular physical exercise or oral oestradiol therapy decreased vasomotor symptoms and increased quality of life in previously sedentary postmenopausal women.

Setting: A prospective, randomised trial at a University Hospital.

Methods: 75 postmenopausal, sedentary women with vasomotor symptoms were randomised to: exercise three-times weekly over 12 weeks (15 women), oral oestradiol therapy for 12 weeks (15 women) and 45 women to three other treatment arms.

Effects of electro-acupuncture on psychological distress in postmenopausal women.

Objectives: To evaluate effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on general psychological distress and relate to experience of climacteric symptoms in 30 postmenopausal women.

Design: A randomised single-blind controlled design was used to evaluate effects of EA and extremely superficial needle insertion, with the latter serving as a near-placebo control.

Settings: The Linköping University Hospital in Sweden.

Urinary excretion of calcitonin gene-related peptide in males with hot flushes after castration for carcinoma of the prostate.

Objective: The majority of men who undergo surgical or medical castration due to prostatic carcinoma develop vasomotor symptoms with hot flushes. The mechanisms behind these symptoms are poorly understood. One possible explanation is a release of the vasodilatory peptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from perivascular nerves, which seem to be involved in the mechanisms behind vasomotion and sweating in postmenopausal women.

Few oligo-amenorrheic athletes have vasomotor symptoms.

Objective: To assess whether women with athletic oligo-amenorrhea have vasomotor symptoms.

Material And Methods: A mailed questionnaire was sent to 252 female athletes about vasomotor symptoms. Identical questions were also mailed to 1523 peri- and postmenopausal women.

Concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide and neuropeptide Y in plasma increase during flushes in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To assess whether the plasma concentrations of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), or neurokinin A (NKA) increase during hot flushes in postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms.

Design: Eight postmenopausal women (age range = 49-63 years) with vasomotor symptoms were included. During 1 day, repeated blood samples were taken between and during flushes; four samples were taken during each flush.

Postmenopausal women without previous or current vasomotor symptoms do not flush after abruptly abandoning estrogen replacement therapy.

Background: Most but not all women suffer from vasomotor symptoms around menopause. The exact mechanisms behind these symptoms are unknown, but the rate of decline in estrogen concentrations has been suggested to affect the risk of hot flushes.

Objective: The objective was to assess whether vasomotor symptoms were induced in women without previous such symptoms, when the women were given combined estradiol and progestagen therapy for 3 months, whereafter therapy was abruptly withdrawn.

Acupuncture treatment of vasomotor symptoms in men with prostatic carcinoma: a pilot study.

Purpose: Most men who undergo castration therapy for prostatic carcinoma will have vasomotor symptoms that usually persist for years. Vasomotor symptoms are elicited from the thermoregulatory center, possibly due to a decrease in hypothalamic opioid activity induced by low sex steroid concentrations. Acupuncture treatment in women, which stimulates hypothalamic opioid activity, alleviates vasomotor symptoms.

Postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms have increased urinary excretion of calcitonin gene-related peptide.

Objectives: To establish whether 24 h urinary excretion of the potent vasodilator calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was higher in postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms compared to the level in women without symptoms. We also wanted to establish whether urinary excretion of CGRP changed during the menstrual cycle in women of fertile age.

Material And Methods: Thirteen postmenopausal women with and 13 women without vasomotor symptoms were included.

Effects of physical activity and acupuncture on calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in different parts of the rat brain and in cerebrospinal fluid, serum and urine.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a very potent vasodilator in the nervous system, and may be involved in hot flushes experienced by most women around menopause. Flushing post-menopausal women had higher urinary excretion of CGRP before than after successful treatment of their flushes with acupuncture. The prevalence of vasomotor symptoms is lower in physically active women.

Problem-based medical education: development of a theoretical foundation and a science-based professional attitude.

Problem-based learning, combined with early patient contact, integration between different subject areas, elements of multiprofessional education, and special emphasis on the development of communications skills has become the basis for the medical curriculum at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Linköping. Critics have questioned the depth of the scientific and theoretical aspects of the curriculum. Through a series of specific measures in the organization of the curriculum and examinations, and due to the pedagogical principles involved per se, our claim is that students graduating at Linköping do possess the required theoretical knowledge and a scientific attitude to the practice of medicine, at least equivalent to that obtained in a more conventional medical curriculum.

[Estrogen and natural products in the treatment of postmenopausal complaints. Oral contraceptives prepare the way for hormonal substitution].

To chart current and previous use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and alternative remedies in a postmenopausal population, in relation to previous oral contraceptive (OC) usage, all 1,323 55-56-year-old women living in Linköping in 1995 were sent a questionnaire concerning health status and climacteric symptoms, and previous and/or current use of HRT, OCs and alternative remedies. Current HRT was more common among previous OC users than among those who had never used OCs (41.4 vs.

Hormone replacement therapy and previous use of oral contraceptives among Swedish women.

Objectives: To assess the current and previous use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and alternative remedies in a postmenopausal population and to relate HRT use to previous use of oral contraceptives.

Material And Methods: All 1323 women living in Linköping of 55 or 56 years old during 1995 were sent a questionnaire asking for data with relation to health and climacteric symptoms as well as to previous and current use of HRT, oral contraceptives and alternative remedies.

Results: Current use of HRT was more common among women who previously used oral contraceptives (41.