Frequent use of staff canteens is associated with unhealthy dietary habits and obesity in a Norwegian adult population.

Objective: To explore socio-economic differences in use of staff canteens and whether frequent use of staff canteens is associated with different food patterns and obesity.

Design: Cross-sectional study using three self-administered questionnaires, two of them including food frequency questions. Factor analysis was used to explore food patterns.

The relative importance of socioeconomic indicators in explaining differences in BMI and waist:hip ratio, and the mediating effect of work control, dietary patterns and physical activity.

Socioeconomic differences in overweight are well documented, but most studies have only used one or two indicators of socioeconomic position (SEP). The aim of the present study was to explore the relative importance of indicators of SEP (occupation, education and income) in explaining variation in BMI and waist:hip ratio (WHR), and the mediating effect of work control and lifestyle factors (dietary patterns, smoking and physical activity). The Oslo Health Study, a cross-sectional study, was carried out in 2000-1, Oslo, Norway.

Role of beta1-3-adrenoceptors in blood pressure control at rest and during tyramine-induced norepinephrine release in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

beta-Adrenoceptors contribute to hypertension in spite of the fact that beta-adrenoceptor agonists lower blood pressure. We aimed to differentiate between these functions and to identify differences between spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats. beta-Adrenoceptor antagonists with different subtype selectivity or the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier were used to demonstrate beta-adrenoceptor involvement in resting blood pressure and the response to tyramine-induced peripheral norepinephrine release.

Overweight and weight dissatisfaction related to socio-economic position, integration and dietary indicators among south Asian immigrants in Oslo.

Objective: To investigate how socio-economic position, demographic factors, degree of integration and dietary indicators are related to BMI/waist:hip ratio (WHR) and to weight dissatisfaction and slimming among South Asians in Oslo, Norway.

Design: Cross-sectional study consisting of a health check including anthropometric measures and two self-administered questionnaires.

Setting: Oslo, Norway.

Matrix metalloproteinases in subjects with type 1 diabetes.

Background: Nephropathy is serious complication of diabetes. We have previously shown that level of the proteoglycan syndecan-1 in blood is associated with ultrastructural kidney changes in young persons with type 1 diabetes. Dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) may contribute to the development of nephropathy.

Fatty acid uptake by breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231): effects of insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and TNFalpha.

In order to exert metabolic effects, fatty acids must be taken up by cells and metabolize effectively to different classes of cellular lipids (triacylglycerols, phospholipids, etc.) for incorporation into different cellular and intracellular compartments. Therefore, the main aim of the present study is to investigate the uptake and metabolism of fatty acids representing three different series of fatty acids such as oleic acid, 18:1n-9 (OA), arachidonic acid, 20:4n-6 (AA), and eicosapentaneoic acid, 20:5n-3 (EPA) by breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231.

Transport of fatty acids across the human placenta: a review.

Essential fatty acids and their long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid derivatives (20C) such as docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids are critical for proper fetal growth and development. Dietary intake as well as metabolism of these fatty acids, and their subsequent transfer from the mother to the fetus are therefore important requisites for developing fetus. The placenta is the key organ through which nutrients such as these fatty acids flow from the mother to the fetus.

The antiatherogenic function of HDL is impaired in hyperhomocysteinemic subjects.

High plasma homocysteine concentrations have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, whereas plasma HDL concentration is inversely correlated to such disorders. We hypothesized that hyperhomocysteinemic subjects may have dysfunctional HDL. We therefore investigated the ability of serum from hyperhomocysteinemic male and female subjects (n = 10) and control subjects (n = 10) to induce cholesterol efflux and to inhibit release of inflammatory mediators from human umbilical vein endothelial cell.

A stereological method for estimating the total length and size of myelinated fibers in rat cerebral cortex.

An efficient and unbiased stereological technique to estimate the total length and total volume of the myelinated fibers in rat cortex is described. Unbiased sampling and measuring principles enable to obtain an unbiased estimation of the true value. In the present design, six tissue blocks were obtained from the entire rat brain cortex in a uniform random fashion.

Proteomic analysis of a rat model of depression.

Major depression is one of the most disabling disorders, yet the pathogenesis of this mental disorder is poorly understood. The techniques of proteomics provide us with powerful tools, while the animal models of depression enable research that cannot be performed on humans due to practical difficulties or ethical reasons. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of some most commonly applied rat models of depression, and explore what could be done with novel proteomic approaches to offer an insight to the pathogenesis of major depression, biomarker establishment and drug development.

Inactive forms of the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A are expressed in the brain of higher primates.

It is well documented that the beta-gene of the catalytic (C) subunit of protein kinase A encodes a number of splice variants. These splice variants are equipped with a variable N-terminal end encoded by alternative use of several exons located 5' to exon 2 in the human, bovine and mouse Cbeta gene. In the present study, we demonstrate the expression of six novel human Cbeta mRNAs that lack 99 bp due to loss of exon 4.

Changes in food habits after migration among South Asians settled in Oslo: the effect of demographic, socio-economic and integration factors.

The aim is to explore changes in food habits after migration, and the resultant present food consumption patterns, as well as the effect of demographic, socio-economic and integration factors on these changes. Analyses were based on data collected through the Oslo Immigrant Health study, from 629 persons 30-60 years of age, born in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and living in Oslo, Norway. A majority of the Sri Lankans reported increase in the consumption of meat, milk, butter, margarine and potatoes.

Intake of dairy fat and dairy products, and risk of myocardial infarction: a case-control study.

The role of dairy fat in the aetiology of myocardial infarction (MI) is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between intake of dairy fat and dairy products, and risk of a first acute MI. A total of 111 MI patients with a first acute MI and 107 population controls (men and women, age 45 75 years) were studied.

[Effect of TSPG on proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cell into dopaminergic neuron].

Objective: To investigate the effects of total saponins of panax ginseng (TSPG) on proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cell (NSC) into dopaminergic neuron.

Method: Isolation, cultivation and identification of human embryonic NSC from cerebral cortex of 7-12 week abortus. By using flow cytometry and MTT assay, the effects of various concentration of TSPG and TSPG cooperating with cytokines( EGF, bFGF) in NSC culture media for 3 days on proliferation of human embryonic NSC has studied.

Preferences and perceptions of personal vegetable consumption: a study among young men in the Norwegian National Guard.

A survey was developed to assess the intake, main sources and preferences related to vegetables among 578 male recruits (response rate 78%), in addition to perceptions of personal vegetable consumption. The recruits' average vegetable intake (including potatoes) was 244 g/day. Six per cent of the recruits consumed the recommended 450 g/day or more of vegetables.

Comparison of diet measures from a food-frequency questionnaire with measures from repeated 24-hour dietary recalls. The Norwegian Women and Cancer Study.

Objective: To compare diet measures from a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with measures from 24-hour dietary recalls (24HDRs).

Design: The participants answered an FFQ after completing four, repeated 24HDRs during a year.

Setting: Norway, nationwide.

Health worker style and trustworthiness as perceived by Pakistani-born persons with type 2 diabetes in Oslo, Norway.

This article explores Pakistani-born persons' expectations regarding health encounters and health-worker style, and consequences for communication. It is part of a larger qualitative study involving both health workers and Pakistani-born persons in Oslo. An earlier publication based on interviews with health workers revealed dilemmas around role enactment, and described how they perceived Pakistani-born patients to expect an authoritarian health-worker style.

Correlates of vegetable consumption among young men in the Norwegian National Guard.

The aim of this study was to investigate socio-environmental, personal and behavioural factors associated with vegetable consumption among young men in the military. Respondents included 578 male recruits (mean age 19.7) in the Norwegian National Guard (response rate 78%).

Differential responses of the growth hormone axis in two rat models of streptozotocin-induced insulinopenic diabetes.

The impact of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced, insulinopenic diabetes on the GH axis of rats and mice differs from study to study, where this variation may be related to the induction scheme, severity of the diabetes and/or the genetic background of the animal model used. In order to begin differentiate between these possibilities, we compared the effects of two different STZ induction schemes on the GH axis of male Sprague-Dawley rats: (1) a single high-dose injection of STZ (HI STZ, 80 mg/kg, i.p.

Intake of milk fat, reflected in adipose tissue fatty acids and risk of myocardial infarction: a case-control study.

Objective: To study the association between content of fatty acids from milk fat (14:0, 15:0 and 17:0) in adipose tissue and risk of a first myocardial infarction (MI).

Design And Subjects: A case-control study with 99 patients and 98 population controls both men and postmenopausal women, age 45-75 year. Adipose tissue fatty acids were determined by gas-liquid chromatography.

Role dilemmas among health-workers in cross-cultural patient encounters around dietary advice.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to explore Norwegian health workers' experiences from cross-cultural patient encounters, and how they understand and enact their role when meeting patients with Pakistani background to whom they give dietary advice related to type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Qualitative in-depth interviews have been performed with six hospital dietitians and six general practitioners in Oslo.

Results: The health workers consider themselves to be patient-centred and stress the importance of the two dimensions, empathy and equality.

Body mass index and mortality in a prospectively studied cohort of Scandinavian women: the women's lifestyle and health cohort study.

Overweight and obesity increase the risk of numerous chronic diseases, including several forms of cancer. However, the association between excess body weight and all-cause mortality among young and middle-aged women is incompletely known, and the impact of menopausal status on the association has hardly been investigated. We studied prospectively a cohort comprising a population sample of 102,446 women from Norway and Sweden aged 30-50 years when they answered an extensive questionnaire in 1991/1992.

Experience of dietary advice among Pakistani-born persons with type 2 diabetes in Oslo.

Experience and implementation of dietary advice are influenced by various factors including ethnic, cultural and religious background. The aim is to explore how ethnic minority persons with diabetes experience dietary advice given by Norwegian health-workers, which strategies they have in response to the advice and how they explain their actions. In-depth interviews were performed with 15 Pakistani-born persons with type 2 diabetes living in Oslo.

A robust characterization of retinoic acid response elements based on a comparison of sites in three species.

The availability of high-throughput genomic sequencing has allowed us to construct a more robust characterization of retinoic acid response elements than was possible in the past. We located human, mouse, and rat homologs for each of 51 well-documented, conserved retinoic acid response elements. Mathematical and statistical analyses of these 153 sites, 78 of which are new, shows that 92% of response elements have direct-repeat symmetry, but that only 76% exhibit canonical spacing attributes.