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- Zelissen, P M J, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of three treatment schedules of recombinant methionyl human leptin on body weight in obese adults: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. - : Wiley. - 1462-8902 .- 1463-1326. ; 7:6, s. 755-61
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on body weight and safety of subcutaneously administered recombinant leptin in obese adults and to evaluate whether the timing of recombinant leptin administration influences efficacy. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study was designed, comprising of a 3-week dietary lead-in followed by a 12-week leptin or placebo treatment period. A total of 284 overweight and obese (body mass index 27-37.0 kg/m(2)) predominantly white (98%) women (66%) and men (34%) with a mean (+/-s.d.) 46.8+/-10.4 years of age were randomized into three treatment groups with three matching placebo groups. Recombinant leptin was administered by subcutaneous injection [10 mg/morning, 10 mg/evening or 20 mg/day (10 mg twice daily)]. Patients were counselled at baseline to reduce dietary intake by 2,100 kJ/day (500 kcal/day), and dietary advice was reinforced every 2-4 weeks. RESULTS: No statistically significant change in body weight occurred with recombinant leptin treatment compared with placebo treatment in any treatment group. No clinically significant adverse effects were observed with the exception of an increase in injection-site reactions in patients treated with recombinant leptin (83%) vs. placebo (36%). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of recombinant leptin to an overweight and obese population, in addition to a mildly energy-restricted diet, was not efficacious in terms of weight loss at the doses and schedules studied. The hypothesis that nocturnal administration of recombinant leptin might have a specific effect on weight loss was not supported.
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| 4. |
- Macfarlane, G. J., et al.
(författare)
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Investigating the determinants of international differences in the prevalence of chronic widespread pain: evidence from the European Male Ageing Study
- 2009
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 1468-2060 .- 0003-4967. ; 68:5, s. 690-695
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To determine whether among middle-aged and elderly men there is evidence of international differences in the prevalence of chronic widespread pain (CWP) and whether any such differences could be explained by psychological, psychosocial factors or differences in physical health status. Methods: The European Male Ageing Study (EMAS) sampled from population registers in cities ( centres) of eight European countries. Each centre recruited an age-stratified sample of men aged 40-79 years. Information on pain was collected by questionnaire and subjects were classified according to whether they satisfied the American College of Rheumatology definition of CWP. Information was collected on social status, mental health, recent life events and co-morbidities. Results: Across all centres 3963 subjects completed a study questionnaire, with participation rates ranging from 24% in Hungary to 72% in Estonia. There were significant differences in prevalence: between 5% and 7% in centres in Italy, England, Belgium and Sweden, 9-15% in centres in Spain, Poland and Hungary and 15% in Estonia. There were strong relationships between poor mental health, adverse recent life events, co-morbidities and CWP. Adjustment for these factors explained between half and all of the excess risk in the eastern European centres: the excess risk in Poland was explained ( odds ratio ( OR) 1.1, 95% CI 0.9 to 1.2) but there remained excess risk in Hungary ( OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4 to 1.8) and Estonia ( OR 2.6, 95% CI 2.2 to 2.9). Conclusions: This study is the first directly to compare the occurrence of CWP internationally. There is an excess prevalence in countries of eastern Europe and this excess is associated with adverse psychosocial factors as well as poorer psychological and physical health.
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- Steffen, A., et al.
(författare)
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A synthesis of atmospheric mercury depletion event chemistry in the atmosphere and snow
- 2008
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Ingår i: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 8:6, s. 1445-1482
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It was discovered in 1995 that, during the spring time, unexpectedly low concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) occurred in the Arctic air. This was surprising for a pollutant known to have a long residence time in the atmosphere; however conditions appeared to exist in the Arctic that promoted this depletion of mercury (Hg). This phenomenon is termed atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs) and its discovery has revolutionized our understanding of the cycling of Hg in Polar Regions while stimulating a significant amount of research to understand its impact to this fragile ecosystem. Shortly after the discovery was made in Canada, AMDEs were confirmed to occur throughout the Arctic, sub-Artic and Antarctic coasts. It is now known that, through a series of photochemically initiated reactions involving halogens, GEM is converted to a more reactive species and is subsequently associated to particles in the air and/or deposited to the polar environment. AMDEs are a means by which Hg is transferred from the atmosphere to the environment that was previously unknown. In this article we review Hg research taken place in Polar Regions pertaining to AMDEs, the methods used to collect Hg in different environmental media, research results of the current understanding of AMDEs from field, laboratory and modeling work, how Hg cycles around the environment after AMDEs, gaps in our current knowledge and the future impacts that AMDEs may have on polar environments. The research presented has shown that while considerable improvements in methodology to measure Hg have been made but the main limitation remains knowing the speciation of Hg in the various media. The processes that drive AMDEs and how they occur are discussed. As well, the role that the snow pack and the sea ice play in the cycling of Hg is presented. It has been found that deposition of Hg from AMDEs occurs at marine coasts and not far inland and that a fraction of the deposited Hg does not remain in the same form in the snow. Kinetic studies undertaken have demonstrated that bromine is the major oxidant depleting Hg in the atmosphere. Modeling results demonstrate that there is a significant deposition of Hg to Polar Regions as a result of AMDEs. Models have also shown that Hg is readily transported to the Arctic from source regions, at times during springtime when this environment is actively transforming Hg from the atmosphere to the snow and ice surfaces. The presence of significant amounts of methyl Hg in snow in the Arctic surrounding AMDEs is important because this species is the link between the environment and impacts to wildlife and humans. Further, much work on methylation and demethylation processes has occurred but these processes are not yet fully understood. Recent changes in the climate and sea ice cover in Polar Regions are likely to have strong effects on the cycling of Hg in this environment; however more research is needed to understand Hg processes in order to formulate meaningful predictions of these changes.
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- Lee, David M., et al.
(författare)
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Association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older European men
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. - : BMJ. - 1468-330X .- 0022-3050. ; 80:7, s. 722-729
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Although there is evidence that vitamin D inadequacy may be linked to adverse cognitive outcomes, results from studies on this topic have been inconsistent. The aim of this trial was to examine the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) levels and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older European men. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study included 3,369 men aged 40-79 years from eight centres enrolled in the European Male Ageing Study. Cognitive function was assessed using the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test, the Camden Topographical Recognition Memory (CTRM) test and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Serum 25(OH) D levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Additional assessments included measurement of physical activity, functional performance and mood/depression. Associations between cognitive function and 25(OH) D levels were explored using locally weighted and linear regression models. Results: In total, 3,133 men (mean (+/- SD) age 60 +/- 11 years) were included in the analysis. The mean (+/- SD) 25(OH) D concentration was 63 +/- 31 nmol/l. In age-adjusted linear regressions, high levels of 25(OH) D were associated with high scores on the copy component of the ROCF test (beta per 10 nmol/l = 0.096; 95% CI 0.049 to 0.144), the CTRM test (beta per 10 nmol/l= 0.075; 95% CI 0.026 to 0.124) and the DSST (beta per 10 nmol/l = 0.318; 95% CI 0.235 to 0.401). After adjusting for additional confounders, 25(OH) D levels were associated with only score on the DSST (beta per 10 nmol/l = 0.152; 95% CI 0.051 to 0.253). Locally weighted and spline regressions suggested the relationship between 25(OH) D concentration and cognitive function was most pronounced at 25(OH) D concentrations below 35 nmol/l. Conclusion: In this study, lower 25(OH) D levels were associated with poorer performance on the DSST. Further research is warranted to determine whether vitamin D sufficiency might have a role in preserving cognitive function in older adults.
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- Lee, David M., et al.
(författare)
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The association between different cognitive domains and age in a multi-centre study of middle-aged and older European men
- 2009
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Ingår i: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. - : Wiley. - 1099-1166 .- 0885-6230. ; 24:11, s. 1257-1266
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives We determined levels of cognitive functioning in community dwelling men aged 40-79 (n = 3265) from eight European centres and investigated to what extent cognitive performance varied between centres, the association between different cognitive domains and age, educational level, co-morbidity and lifestyle factors and the respective contributions of centre and individual factors to cognitive performance. Methods Cognitive domains assessed were visuo-constructional ability and Visual memory (Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test, ROCF), topographical memory (Camden Topographical Recognition Memory test, CTRM) and processing speed (Digit-Symbol Substitution test, DSST). Results There were significant between-centre differences in all four cognitive test scores. Using multilevel linear regression analysis (MLRA), age, education, depression, physical performance and smoking were independent predictors of cognitive function and these variables explained 10-13% of the variation in cognitive scores between centres and 17-36% of the variation in scores between individuals within centres. Conclusion Our data suggest that although a proportion of the variance in cognitive function among European men is explained by individual level differences, a significant proportion is due to contextual phenomenon. Such contextual factors need to be considered when analysing multi-centre data and European men should not be treated as homogeneous when assessing cognitive performance using existing instruments. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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| 9. |
- Lee, David M., et al.
(författare)
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Vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older European men
- 2009
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Ingår i: European Journal of Endocrinology. - 1479-683X. ; 161:6, s. 947-954
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Low serum 25-hydroxyviatmin D (25(OH)D) and elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels have been linked to insulin resistance, the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components. Data in healthy, community-dwelling Europeans are lacking, and previous studies have not excluded subjects receiving drug treatments that may distort the relationship between 25(OH)D/PTH and MetS. The aim of our analysis was to examine the association of 25(OH)D and PTH with Adult Treatment Panel III-defined MetS in middle-aged and older European men Design: This was a population-based, cross-sectional study of 3369 men aged 40-79 years enrolled in the European Male Ageing Study. Results After exclusion of subjects with missing data. 3069 men with a mean (+/- S.D.) age of 60 +/- 11 years were included in the analysis. Age-adjusted 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (BP), triglycerides, and glucose (all P < 0.01) Age-adjusted PTH levels were only associated with waist and diastolic BP (both P < 0.05). After adjusting for age, centre, season and lifestyle factors the odds for MetS decreased across increasing 25(OH)D quintiles (odds ratios 0.48 (95% confidence intervals 0.36-0.64) highest versus lowest quintile. P-trend < 0.001). This relationship was unchanged after adjustment for PTH, but was attenuated after additional adjustment for homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (0.60 (0.47-0.78) P-trend < 0.001) There was no association between PTH and MetS. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate an inverse relationship between 25(OH)D levels and MetS, which is independent of several confounders and PTH. The relationship is partly explained by insulin resistance. The clinical significance of these observations warrants further study
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