| 1. |
- Bergström, Erik, 1944-
(författare)
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Cardiovascular risk indicators in adolescents : the Umeå youth study
- 1995
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebrovascular disease, are today major causes of death in the industrialised parts of the world. There are evidence to suggest that the atherosclerotic process starts in childhood, implying that preventive measures should be implemented already in children and adolescents.The aim of this study was to examine CVD risk indicators and their determinants in healthy Swedish adolescents. The study population comprised 14- and 17-year-old boys and girls (n=1032), in the dty and surroundings of Umeå in northern Sweden.Biochemical, anthropometric, and physiological parameters associated to CVD (s- lipoproteins and s-apolipoproteins, s-insulin, s-ferritin, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and physical fitness) were evaluated in relation to family history of CVD, weight and length at birth, infant feeding regimen, physical growth during infancy and childhood, current diet, physical activity, smoking, and educational level and occupation of the parents.The main findings of the study were that, on average, total serum cholesterol (TC) values in boys and girls were at the same level as reported from other European countries. A family history of CVD, short duration of breast feeding, low attained height during infancy and childhood, high body mass index (BMI), and low physical fitness were all associated with an unfavourable serum lipid profile. The findings also showed that features typical of the insulin resistance syndrome are present already in adolescents. In boys, iron stores, estimated by serum ferritin, were related to BMI and physical fitness, in a similar way as well established CVD risk indicators. Compared to previous dietary studies in Sweden, mean relative (energy %) fat intake had decreased substantially although the mean relative intake of saturated fat was still rather high. For both boys and girls, reported relative energy intake (energy intake/estimated energy expenditure) decreased with increasing level of BMI. Furthermore, daily smoking was more common among adolescents from families with low socio-economic status (SES) but was most strongly associated to smoking in peers. Tobacco use was considerably higher among adolescents attending vocational programs at secondary high school as compared to theoretical programs. Daily smokers had a more unfavourable serum lipid profile compared to non-smokers. Low socio-economic status of the parents was related to higher BMI and low educational level to higher dietary fat intake in both boys and girls.In conclusion, the findings of the study show that parameters linked to adult CVD when examined in adolescents, are related to family history, infant nutrition, previous physical growth, current body composition, physical fitness, physical activity, smoking, and social status and educational level of the parents.
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| 2. |
- Henriksson, Roger, et al.
(författare)
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High-grade astrocytoma treated concomitantly with estramustine and radiotherapy.
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of neuro-oncology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0167-594X .- 1573-7373. ; 78:3, s. 321-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Experimental and early clinical investigations have demonstrated encouraging results for estramustine in the treatment of malignant glioma. The present study is an open randomized clinical trial comparing estramustine phosphate (Estracyt) in addition to radiotherapy with radiotherapy alone as first line treatment of astrocytoma grade III and IV. The 140 patients included were in a good clinical condition with a median age of 55 years (range 22-87). Estramustine was given orally, 280 mg twice daily, as soon as the diagnosis was established, during and after the radiotherapy for a period of in total 3 months. Radiotherapy was delivered on weekdays 2 Gy daily up to 56 Gy. Eighteen patients were excluded due to misclassification, leaving 122 patients eligible for evaluation. Overall the treatment was well tolerated. Mild or moderate nausea was the most common side effect of estramustine. The minimum follow-up time was 5.2 years for the surviving patients. For astrocytoma grade III the median survival time was 10.6 (1.3-92.7) months for the radiotherapy only group and 17.3 (0.4-96.9+) months for the estramustine + radiotherapy group. In grade IV the corresponding median survival time was 12.3 (2.1-89.2) and 10.3 (0.3-91.7+) months, respectively. Median time to progress for radiotherapy only and radiotherapy and estramustin group in grade III tumours was 6.5 and 10.1 months, respectively. In grade IV tumours the corresponding figures were 5.1 and 3.3 months, respectively. Although there was a tendency for improved survival in grade III, no statistical significant differences were found between the treatment groups. No differences between the two treatment groups were evident with respect to quality of life according to the EORTC QLQ-protocol. In conclusion, this first randomized study did not demonstrate any significant improvement of using estramustine in addition to conventional radiotherapy, however, a trend for a positive response for the estramustine group was found in patients with grade III glioma.
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| 3. |
- Holmberg, Lars I, 1944-
(författare)
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Health, Risk-Taking Behavior and Sexuality in Swedish Adolescents
- 2007
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aims of this research were to develop methods of identifying adolescents with unhealthy and/or risk-taking behavior with special reference to sexuality, and to evaluate support measures for young people in need of such interventions. A further aim was to assess strategies for preventing unhealthy and/or risk-taking behavior. Data were obtained by questionnaires (studies I, III, IV and V) and interviews (study II).The results showed that young men involved in unintended pregnancies would benefit from active participation in the decision making regarding continuation or termination of the pregnancy, and from support at Outpatient Clinics for Adolescents in Sweden, including information together with the partner (I).It was also concluded that consideration should be paid to questions and problems, e.g. feelings, apprehensions, moral issues and psychosocial factors, that require individual support from personnel with knowledge and resources to help young men in this difficult situation (II).Among the most important findings regarding young men who had been involved in an unplanned pregnancy were that in this group a high percentage had previously considered suicide and that anabolic steroids were frequently used, compared with young men without experience of pregnancy (III).The finding that unprotected intercourse occurred in a fairly high frequency among 13- to 18-year-olds, despite massive education and easy access to contraceptives, gives reason for further considerations regarding appropriate ways of providing information to young people (IV).Girls and boys in vocational programs in Swedish high schools exhibit more risk-taking behaviors than those in theoretical programs and these two groups differ in clustering and accumulation of these behaviors. This means that preventive interventional strategies need to be elaborated with regard to these differences, with the aim of improving health maintenance among adolescents (V).Child-and-youth centers with a developmental and research capacity need to be established with the broad purpose of drawing up health prevention programs for children and young people.
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