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At least 811 records · Page 45Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

IASP task force on euthanasia and assisted suicide.

The first meeting of the IASP Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide took place in Venice on June 7, 1995. Several interested observers were present. It was decided that at the public IASP meeting the following day each speaker should address, briefly, the current legal situation and the pressure for change, as well as give a personal statement. David Clark spoke for North America, Bob Goldney for Australia, Michael Kelleher for Britain and Ireland, Jerzy Wasserman for Scandinavia, and Hans Wedler for the German-speaking world. Their views are published in this article. Ad Kerkhof requested that the Dutch television film "Death on Request" be discussed. The committee was of the opinion that clear definitions were essential. In their view, these should take into account the differences between active and passive euthanasia, as well as between professionally assisted and lay-assisted suicide.

Australia↗
PubMed1999

Sensitization to allergens of house-dust mite in adults with atopic dermatitis in a cold temperature region.

BACKGROUND: An IgE-mediated contact reaction to airborne allergens has been suggested as one important pathogenetic mechanism in atopic dermatitis (AD). The house-dust mite (HDM) might be a common allergen involved. In Scandinavia, sensitization to HDM has been rare, probably because of the cold, dry climate. However, recent studies indicate high levels of domestic mites and HDM allergen in 15-20% of homes in central and northern Sweden. METHODS: To evaluate the importance of the HDM in patients with AD in the Stockholm region, we screened 81 adult Stockholm residents with AD, for the prevalence and degree of sensitization to the HDM, according to specific IgE (RAST), skin prick test (SPT), and atopy patch test (APT). We also assessed the HDM exposure in their homes and correlated the results with clinical history, severity of the dermatitis, and type of residence during childhood and today. RESULTS: The sensitization rate to HDM was high (56% according to RAST, 24% according to SPT, and 47% according to APT), and 20% of the patients were exposed to HDM allergens in their beds. Mite exposure seemed to aggravate the dermatitis in highly sensitized patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that we have to take the HDM into account when discussing aggravating factors in adult patients with AD in the Stockholm region.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Biologic activity of Dermatophagoides siboney and Blomia tropicalis allergens in exposed and unexposed mite-allergic individuals. Effect of patient selection on the biologic standardization of mite extracts.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the influence of patient selection criteria, i.e., mite-allergic individuals exposed and not exposed to Dermatophagoides siboney and Blomia tropicalis, on the biologic activity of mite extracts. Determination of the potency of mite extracts in vivo requires selection of patients with a clinical history of mite allergy. In Scandinavia, there are some anamnestic criteria for mite allergy, whereas in the tropics, where patients are continuously exposed to high levels of mites, selection of patients with mite allergy by clinical history is difficult. METHODS: A total of 210 Cuban asthmatics with continuous symptoms, and 43 Swedes with a clinical history of mite allergy were investigated. Skin prick tests were performed with D. siboney, D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae, B. tropicalis, Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae extracts. For analysis of the biologic activity of mite extracts, Cuban patients were divided into four groups: 1) all patients skin-test-positive to mites 2) patients positive to mites, but not to other inhalant allergens 3) patients reacting most to the mite species analyzed 4) patients reactive only to mites and reacting most to the mite species analyzed. The biologic potency was calculated according to the Nordic Guidelines. RESULTS: Due to cross-reactivity between mites, Swedish mite-sensitive patients, with a clear clinical history of mite allergy, but not exposed to D. siboney and B. tropicalis, were more skin reactive to these mites than were Cubans. The estimated potency increased gradually to >200% in group 4. In group 1 Cubans, the reactivity to all mites but B. tropicalis was lower than that in mite-sensitive Swedes. CONCLUSIONS: According to the influence of patient selection criteria on the estimation of the potency of mite extracts, the determination of the biologic activity of allergenic extracts in subjects without a clear-cut clinical history should be replaced by new methods when available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Cockroach sensitivity in Norway: a previously unidentified problem?

BACKGROUND: Little is known about cockroach sensitization in Scandinavia, whereas cockroaches are implicated in allergic diseases throughout large parts of the world. In association with the Genetics of Asthma International Network (GAIN) study, we report sensitization to cockroaches and possible association with IgE-mediated diseases in Norway. METHODS: 100 Norwegian families (426 subjects) of 7-35-year-old sibling-pairs with asthma and their parents underwent questionnaire/interview (medical and exposure history), skin prick test (SPT) to common local inhalant allergens and German cockroach, and IgE specific to mites, mosquito, shrimp and cockroach. Cockroach sensitization was defined as positive if there was a positive (> or = 3 mm) skin prick test and/or presence of IgE antibody of class 2 or more. RESULTS: Thirty-one subjects (7.5%) were sensitized (five monosensitized) to cockroach (27 by skin prick test and seven by IgE antibody, all with additional inhalant allergy). Co-sensitization was most common to grass (in 61%), cat (48%), dog (48%) and mites (42%). Reported allergic diseases in cockroach-sensitized subjects were asthma and rhinitis (n = 10), asthma only (n = 9), rhinitis only (n = 2) and neither asthma nor rhinitis (n = 10). CONCLUSIONS: Since cockroach sensitization was relatively frequent in Norwegian atopic families, albeit with unclear clinical implications, we suggest that cockroach allergy should be considered in atopic subjects with respiratory disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

A gene telomeric of the HLA class I region is involved in predisposition to both type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease.

We have recently shown that an as yet unidentified gene within or in the vicinity of the HLA complex, in linkage disequilibrium with microsatellite D6S2223, modifies the risk to develop type 1 diabetes independently of HLA-DR and -DQ genes. This microsatellite is located 2.5 Mb telomeric to HLA-F and particular alleles at this microsatellite modifies the risk encoded by the high-risk DRB1*03-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 (hereafter called DR3) haplotype. Coeliac disease and type 1 diabetes share some susceptibility HLA class II haplotypes, in Scandinavia particularly the DR3 haplotype. We therefore investigated whether the marker D6S2223 might also be associated with coeliac disease. In order to keep the contributions from the DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 genes constant (i.e., eliminate the effects of linkage disequilibrium to disease associated DR and/or DQ alleles), we only used cases and controls being homozygous for DR3. We found the frequency of allele 3 at D6S2223 to be reduced among patients with coeliac disease compared to controls, to a similar extent as seen in type 1 diabetes, which could not be explained by a different distribution of HLA-B alleles (as ascertained by typing for the MIB microsatellite). This negatively associated allele 3 at D6S2223 occurred in a homozygous combination at a significantly lower frequency among patients than controls. Thus, allele 3 at D6S2223 on DR3 haplotypes is associated with reduced susceptibility for development of both type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease. This suggests that a gene(s) in the vicinity of D6S2223 is involved in the pathogenesis of both of these immune-mediated diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Atopy among schoolchildren in northern and southern Sweden in relation to pet ownership and early life events.

Studies have suggested a higher prevalence of asthma and allergies in northern, as compared to southern, Scandinavia. The aim of this study was to evaluate regional differences in atopy in relation to pet ownership and certain early life events among schoolchildren (n=2108) aged 10-11 years from Linköping in southern Sweden and Ostersund in northern Sweden. The parents completed a questionnaire, comprising questions on home environment, heredity, socio-economic conditions, and the core questions on symptoms from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. The children were skin-prick tested to eight common inhalant allergens. Information on maternal smoking habits, gestational age, and anthropometric measures were obtained from the Swedish Medical Birth Registry. The prevalence of atopic symptoms and sensitization to pollen were similar in Ostersund and in Linköping. A higher prevalence of sensitization to animal dander among children in Ostersund could be linked to a higher occurrence of pets in the community. Current cat ownership was related to less sensitivity to cat allergen but only in children with an atopic heredity. Ponderal index >30 kg/m3 was related to an increased risk of atopic sensitization, both in Linköping (adjusted odds ratio 2.1; 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.0) and in Ostersund (adjusted odds ratio 2.0; 95% confidence interval 1.1-3.5). Maternal smoking during pregnancy was related to an increased risk of atopic sensitization among children in Linköping, whereas current smoking was associated with a decreased risk of sensitization in Ostersund. In conclusion, we demonstrated that a high occurrence of pets in the community was associated with sensitization, whereas atopic symptoms were essentially unaffected. This study has also suggested an association between body size at birth and atopic sensitization at 10-11 years of age.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Airway management behaviour, experience and knowledge among Danish anaesthesiologists--room for improvement.

BACKGROUND: Problems with managing the airways in relation to anaesthesia causes severe morbidity and mortality. A large proportion of these adverse respiratory events is preventable. Still patients continue to die from airway disasters related to anaesthesia, also in Scandinavia. The goal of this study is to identify which efforts are likely to improve this situation. METHODS: A questionnaire asking about experience, behaviour and availability of various items of equipment was mailed to all members of the Danish Society of Anaesthesiologists and were returned anonymously. RESULTS: More than 65% of respondents have sufficient access to a flexible fibrescope, but still 17% of specialists have no access and the vast majority (>67%) has little (1-10 times) or no experience in its use for awake intubation. A total of 52-70% knew the basic principles of the ASA difficult airway algorithm, but despite this only 25-50% would perform awake intubation if a difficult intubation was expected. More than 20% of respondents had experienced preventable airway management mishaps. In all, 18-46% did not know how to oxygenate via the cricothyroid membrane. CONCLUSION: There is room for improvement regarding airway management skills among Danish anaesthesiologists. It is likely that airway management can be improved by: A) Better knowledge of an appropriate plan, algorithm, for airway management. B) Awake intubation used more often. C) More experience in fibreoptic intubation. D) All anaesthesiologists accepting that previous difficult intubation is an indicator of future difficulties. E) All anaesthesiologists knowing, and practising on manikins, how to oxygenate via the cricothyroid membrane. F) Always having a laryngeal mask airway immediately available when inducing anaesthesia.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed2002

Mortality of anesthesiologists, pediatricians, and other specialists in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Following sensational media reports, particularly from Sweden, there has been discussion in Scandinavia during the last couple of years about whether anesthesiologists have shorter life spans than other medical specialists. METHODS: Survival analysis (Cox regression) from the master file of the Norwegian Medical Association was used to compare anesthesiologists with pediatricians and other specialists. Data was taken from 10367 specialists, 533 anesthesiologists, 488 pediatricians, and 9325 other specialists, with Norwegian citizenship. These comprised 574065 man-years, of which 171190 were lived after achieving specialty. CONCLUSION: No differences in mortality were found between the three groups.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed2003

A practice survey on vasopressor and inotropic drug therapy in Scandinavian intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: This practice survey was performed to analyse the indications for use of vasopressor/inotropic drugs, preferred drugs and doses as well as concomitant monitoring and desired haemodynamic target values in Scandinavian ICUs. An internet-based reporting system was implemented. METHODS: A total of 223 ICUs were identified in the Scandinavian countries and invited to participate in a one-day point-prevalence study. An internet-based database was constructed and a practice survey protocol designed to identify haemodynamic monitoring, indications for vasopressor/inotropic drug-therapy, fluids used for volume loading, pretreatment circulatory state, actual and targeted haemodynamic variables. Patients were eligible for the study if on vasopressor/inotropic drug-therapy for more than 4 h. RESULTS: A total of 114 ICUs participated. A total of 114 adult patients matched the inclusion criteria. Sixty-seven per cent of the patients had received vasopressor/inotropic drug-treatment for >24 h and 32% received more than one drug. Arterial hypotension (92%) and oliguria (50%) were most common indications. Fluid loading prior to therapy was reported in 87% of patients. Dopamine (47%) and noradrenaline (44%) were the most commonly used drugs followed by dobutamine (24%). No other drug exceeded 6%. Non-catecholamine drugs were rarely used even in cardiac failure patients. Invasive arterial pressure was monitored in 95% of patients, pulmonary artery catheters were used in 19%. Other cardiac output monitoring techniques were used in 8.5% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Dopamine and noradrenaline seem to be the most commonly used inotropic/vasopressor drugs in Scandinavia. Traditional indications for inotropic/vasopressor support as hypotension and oliguria seem to be most common. Invasive monitoring was used in almost all patients, whereas a limited use of pulmonary artery catheters was noted. The internet-based reporting system proved to be an efficient tool for data collection.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis following nephropathia epidemica.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an acute monophasic inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) occurring days to weeks after a virus infection or vaccination. Nephropathia epidemica (NE) is a haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by Puumala virus, with endemic regions in Europe, especially Scandinavia and Western Russia. We describe a case of severe nephropathia epidemica requiring dialysis, followed by severe CNS symptoms caused by ADEM. To our best knowledge this is the first case in the literature in which NE caused ADEM.

Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated↗
PubMed1999

Hyperferritinaemia-cataract syndrome.

The first family with hyperferritinaemia-cataract syndrome in Scandinavia is described. We discuss the etiology and point at this diagnosis as a differential diagnosis in case of hereditary cataract.

Cataract↗
PubMed2000

The wrist is a reliable body site for personal dosimetry of ultraviolet radiation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of measuring solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) doses with personal UV dosimeters worn on the wrist. Individual solar UVR exposure was measured over one day under standardised conditions (One-day Beach Study), and over an extended period of time with varying UV exposure and activities (Holiday Study). Dosimeters of a UV-sensitive spore-film filter type (VioSpor) were placed on the right wrist and on the top of head of the test subjects. The wrist was chosen as being a practical position for personal dosimetry and the head position as an internal control for maximal personal UV doses. The One-day Beach Study took place in the vicinity of Copenhagen in June 1998 over 5 h and included 11 subjects. The Holiday Study included 9 subjects during a period with a mean of 14 days in Scandinavia and Europe from June to September 1998. The head position received the highest UV dose in all subjects in both studies. In both studies, despite considerable individual variation, the mean wrist dose was the same (50%) of that received on the head, although the wrist dose correlated significantly with head dose (P<0.01) only in the Holiday Study. We conclude that the wrist position is a practical and convenient body site for personal dosimetry, yielding reliable results in group exposure studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Re-Os isotopic evidence for a lower crustal origin of massif-type anorthosites

Massif-type anorthosites are large igneous complexes of Proterozoic age. They are almost monomineralic, representing vast accumulations of plagioclase with subordinate pyroxene or olivine and Fe-Ti oxides--the 930-Myr-old Rogaland anorthosite province in southwest Norway represents one of the youngest known expressions of such magmatism. The source of the magma and geodynamic setting of massif-type anorthosites remain long-standing controversies in Precambrian geology, with no consensus existing as to the nature of the parental magmas or whether these magmas primarily originate in the Earth's mantle or crust. At present, massif-type anorthosites are believed to have crystallized from either crustally contaminated mantle-derived melts that have fractionated olivine and pyroxenes at depth or primary aluminous gabbroic to jotunitic melts derived from the lower continental crust. Here we report rhenium and osmium isotopic data from the Rogaland anorthosite province that strongly support a lower crustal source for the parental magmas. There is no evidence of significantly older crust in southwest Scandinavia and models invoking crustal contamination of mantle-derived magmas fail to account for the isotopic data from the Rogaland province. Initial osmium and neodymium isotopic values testify to the melting of mafic source rocks in the lower crust with an age of 1,400-1,550 Myr.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1978

Pathology of analgesic nephropathy: Australian experience.

Analgesic nephropathy was first studied in Switzerland and Scandinavia, and most observers thought that papillary necrosis, a feature of the pathology, was the result of chronic interstitial nephritis, the other principal feature. From 1962, reports indicated a high incidence of analgesic nephropathy in Australia and suggested that papillary changes preceded cortical damage. Later, associated uroepithelial carcinoma was noted. Early papillary lesions consist of necrosis of elements around groups of collecting ducts. Necrosis extends upward through the medulla from the papilla and gradually intensifies to total papillary destruction. Fat and calcium accumulation and changes in matrix mucopolysaccharide are markers of papillary injury. Cortical atrophy is dependent upon collecting duct obstruction and is proportional to the degree of obstruction. Infection may complicate late pathologic changes. It is suggested that in the early stages the disease represents an injury to "concentrating columns" in the medulla.

Analgesics↗
PubMed2002

Quantifying nitrogen-fixation in feather moss carpets of boreal forests.

Biological nitrogen (N) fixation is the primary source of N within natural ecosystems, yet the origin of boreal forest N has remained elusive. The boreal forests of Eurasia and North America lack any significant, widespread symbiotic N-fixing plants. With the exception of scattered stands of alder in early primary successional forests, N-fixation in boreal forests is considered to be extremely limited. Nitrogen-fixation in northern European boreal forests has been estimated at only 0.5 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1); however, organic N is accumulated in these ecosystems at a rate of 3 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) (ref. 8). Our limited understanding of the origin of boreal N is unacceptable given the extent of the boreal forest region, but predictable given our imperfect knowledge of N-fixation. Herein we report on a N-fixing symbiosis between a cyanobacterium (Nostoc sp.) and the ubiquitous feather moss, Pleurozium schreberi (Bird) Mitt. that alone fixes between 1.5 and 2.0 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) in mid- to late-successional forests of northern Scandinavia and Finland. Previous efforts have probably underestimated N-fixation potential in boreal forests.

Acetylene↗
PubMed1997

Demographic history and linkage disequilibrium in human populations.

In the human genome, linkage disequilibrium (LD)--the non-random association of alleles at chromosomal loci--has been studied mainly in regions surrounding disease genes on affected chromosomes. Consequently, little information is available on the distribution of LD across anonymous genomic regions in the general population. However, demographic history is expected to influence the extent of overall LD across the genome, so a population that has been of constant size will display higher levels of LD than a population that has expanded. In support of this, the extent of LD between anonymous loci on chromosome 4 in chimpanzees (as a model of a population of constant size) has been compared to that in Finns (as a model of an expanded population; refs 8,9) and found to exhibit more LD than in the latter population. In Europe, studies of mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequences have suggested that most populations have experienced expansion, whereas the Saami in northern Fenno-Scandinavia have been of constant size (Table 1). Thus, in northern Europe, populations with radically different demographic histories live in close geographic proximity to each other. We studied the allelic associations between anonymous microsatellite loci on the X chromosome in the Saami and neighbouring populations and found dramatically higher levels of LD in the Saami than in other populations in the region. This indicates that whereas recently expanded populations, such as the Finns, are well suited to map single disease genes affected by recent mutations, populations that have been of constant size, such as the Saami, may be much better suited to map genes for complex traits that are caused by older mutations.

Alleles↗
PubMed2001

Quality evaluation of clinical records of a group of general dental practitioners entering a quality assurance programme.

This paper discusses the importance of maintaining high quality clinical records. Evidence from studies carried out in the USA, Australia and Scandinavia shows that record keeping often falls well below accepted standards. Evidence of current standards in the UK, however, has tended to be anecdotal or circumstantial. An assessment was carried out on 47 general practitioners entering the quality assurance programme of a private capitation scheme. A sample of clinical records from each practitioner was analysed, and the presence or absence of key diagnostic and treatment planning entries were recorded. Overall, the quality of record keeping was poor, and in line with the findings of the other worldwide studies. Fundamental clinical entries that could impact on basic dental care provision were missing from many records. The frequency of recording for patients whose treatment was funded under NHS regulations was significantly worse than for patients whose treatment was privately funded.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1989

A sojourn in Sweden.

In recent years, there has been a brisk increase of interest in disorders of the temporomandibular joint. Much valuable and pioneering research has been carried out in Scandinavia, particularly in Sweden. This article describes some impressions I formed of the Swedish Dental Service, and the way in which care for TM joint patients is managed in Sweden, during a visit I was able to make there.

Humans↗