| 1. |
- Andersson, Ulf, 1973-, et al.
(author)
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Challenges in designing virtual environments training social skills for children with autism
- 2006
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In: International Journal on Disability and Human Development. - Tel Aviv Israel : Freund Publishing House Ltd. - 1565-012X. ; 5:2, s. 105-111, s. 35-43
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the study was to explore particular challenges faced when designing virtual environments for children with autism, with the purpose of training social skills. Our findings are based on studying autistic behavior during three years (primary and secondary sources), analysis of related system and other computer mediated assistive technology, as well as general game design. From these studies, we have identified eight critical design parameters that must be adjustable in a system suitable for autistic persons. The importance of the parameters, their variation range, as well as the need for independent adjustment of these were estimated and verified by experienced expert pedagogues. Copyright © Freund Publishing House Limited.
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| 2. |
- Gellerstedt, Martin, 1966-, et al.
(author)
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Could a computer-based system including a prevalence function support emergency medical systems and improve the allocation of life support level?
- 2006
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In: Eur J Emerg Med. - London, UK : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Ltd.. - 0969-9546 .- 1473-5695. ; 13:5, s. 290-4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether a computer-based decision support system could be useful for the emergency medical system when identifying patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or life-threatening conditions and thereby improve the allocation of life support level. METHODS: Patients in the Municipality of Goteborg who dialled the dispatch centre due to chest pain during a period of 3 months. To analyse the relationship between patient characteristics (according to a case record form used during an interview) and the response variables (AMI or life-threatening condition), multivariate logistic regression was used. For each patient, the probability of AMI/life-threatening condition was estimated by the model. We used these probabilities retrospectively to allocate advanced life support or basic life support. This model allocation was then compared with the true allocation made by the dispatchers. RESULTS: The sensitivity, that is, the percentage of AMI patients allocated to advanced life support, was 85.7% in relation to the true allocation made by the dispatchers. The corresponding sensitivity regarding allocation made by the model was 92.4% (P=0.17). The specificity was also slightly higher for the model allocation than the dispatcher allocation. Among the 15 patients with AMI who were allocated to basic life support by the dispatchers, nine died (eight during and one after hospitalization). Among the eight patients with AMI allocated to basic life support by the model, only one patient died (in hospital) (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: A computer-based decision support system including a prevalence function could be a valuable tool for allocating the level of life support. The case record form, however, used for the interview can be refined and a model based on a larger sample and confirmed in a prospective study is recommended.
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| 3. |
- Gellerstedt, Martin, 1966-, et al.
(author)
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Interpretation of subjective symptoms in double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges - interobserver reliability
- 2004
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In: Allergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0105-4538 .- 1398-9995. ; 59, s. 354-356
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Subjective symptoms after food challenges are difficult to interpret and no standard is available. We discuss a strategy for how to interpret a diary. Furthermore, the interobserver reliability is evaluated. METHODS: Diaries for 32 patients with subjective symptoms were used. The diaries were re-evaluated with a predefined strategy by three independent observers. RESULTS: The proportion of positives was 21.9% among the old diagnoses, according to the new approach 34.4% (observers I and II) and 37.5% (observer III) were positive. The new approach had high interobserver reliability (97 and 100%). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of positives depends on how subjective symptoms are interpreted. Interpretations of subjective symptoms in diaries could be made with high interobserver reliability.
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| 4. |
- Magnusson, J, et al.
(author)
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A kinetic study in adults with food hypersensitivity assessed as eosinophil activation in fecal samples
- 2003
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In: Clinical and Experimental Allergy. - : Wiley. - 0954-7894 .- 1365-2222. ; 33:8, s. 1052-1059.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Immune-mediated food hypersensitivity affecting the gut is difficult to evaluate, and objective tools to diagnose local gastrointestinal (GI) inflammatory reactions are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether allergic manifestations in adults with a history of food-related GI symptoms could be assessed in feces during symptomatic and non-symptomatic periods, using the surrogate markers, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil protein X (EPX) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). METHODS: Thirteen subjects with food hypersensitivity-related GI symptoms, confirmed by a positive double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC), were subjected to an open kinetic food challenge design for 6 weeks. Symptoms were recorded and scored during the 3-week study period and stool samples were obtained every day. The surrogate markers ECP, EPX and MPO were measured in the supernatants from feces samples. RESULTS: A significant increase in abdominal pain, distension and flatulence was observed during challenge, with a gradual decrease during elimination diet. Both between days and subjects, EPX levels were more frequently increased compared to ECP and MPO. Individuals with a history of a short duration of symptoms had significantly higher mean levels of EPX and MPO than those with a longer duration of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: An overall increase in levels of eosinophil markers, in particular EPX, was observed in feces from patients with food-related GI symptoms. However, rather than being a tool to differentiate symptomatic from non-symptomatic periods, EPX might be used for detecting an ongoing clinical or subclinical chronic inflammation, that may have an impact on the patient's clinical course of GI symptoms.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Löfvenmark, Caroline, et al.
(author)
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Perceived loneliness and social support in patients with chronic heart failure
- 2009
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In: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1474-5151 .- 1873-1953. ; 8:4, s. 251-258
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Self-reported conditions have become increasingly important in patient care, and perceived loneliness and social relationships in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are not sufficiently investigated. Aim: The aim was to investigate perceived loneliness and social support in patients with CHF. Further, to investigate whether loneliness and social support might be associated with gender, age, healthcare utilization and mortality. Methods: One hundred and forty nine patients with CHF, hospitalised at least once during a 4-month period in 2006, completed a self-reported questionnaire including measurements about loneliness and social support. Healthcare utilization was assessed prospectively by frequency of readmissions and number of days hospitalised during 1 year. Results: Loneliness was reported by 29 (20%) participants. They were more often women (p < 0.001) and younger (p = 0.024). Patients who perceived loneliness had fewer social contacts (p = 0.033), reported lower occurrence of emotional contacts (p = 0.004), were less satisfied with social contacts and close relationships (p < 0.001). Those reporting loneliness had more days hospitalised (p = 0.044), and more readmissions to hospital (p = 0.027), despite not having more severe CHF. Conclusion: Loneliness is a health-related risk indicator in that patients with CHF who perceived loneliness have more healthcare utilization than those who do not report loneliness despite not having more severe CHF. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 7. |
- Ribom, Eva, et al.
(author)
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Muscle strength correlates with total body bone mineral density in young women but not in men
- 2004
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. - : Wiley. - 0905-7188 .- 1600-0838. ; 14, s. 24-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a growing health problem. One of the proposed reasons for this is a more sedentary lifestyle. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between muscle strength and total body bone mineral density (TBMD) in young adults at expected peak bone mass. METHODS: Sixty-four women and 61 men (total 125) 21 years of age were included. Handgrip strength, isokinetic knee-flexion and -extension muscle strength, TBMD, and body composition were measured. RESULTS: Univariate regression analyses showed that knee flexion and extension explained almost 30% of the variation in TBMD in women, whereas handgrip strength was not associated with TBMD. In men, no correlation between any measures of muscle strength and TBMD was evident. Stepwise regression analysis showed that knee-flexion and -extension muscle strength in women were associated with TBMD, R2=0.27. In men, lean body mass, fat mass, weight, and height were predictors for TBMD, R2=0.43, whereas muscle strength did not affect the prediction of TBMD. CONCLUSIONS: Muscle strength at weight-bearing sites is related to TBMD in women, whereas body composition is related to TBMD in men. The association of lower limb strength on TBMD only in young women indicates a gender difference.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Brändström, Yvonne, et al.
(author)
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Physical activity six months after a myocardial infarction
- 2009
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In: International journal of nursing practice. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia. - 1440-172X .- 1322-7114. ; 15:3, s. 191-7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the present study, we wished to explore physical activity in middle-aged patients 6 months after a myocardial infarction and to compare the patients' self-reported activity level with pedometric measures of footsteps/day. The sample comprised 89 patients with myocardial infarction, aged
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| 10. |
- Sterner, Bertil, 1959, et al.
(author)
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The amplitude of accommodation in 6-10-year-old children - not as good as expected!
- 2004
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In: Ophthalmic & physiological optics. - : Wiley. - 0275-5408 .- 1475-1313. ; 24:3, s. 246-251
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to measure the amplitude of accommodation for junior level school children and to compare it with age-expected values. A junior level school in Göteborg, Sweden, was randomly chosen and the amplitude of accommodation among 76 children aged 6-10 years was examined using Donders' push-up method. The results showed lower amplitude than expected in a large group of children. Results also showed lower amplitude than previously reported for this age group, especially under monocular conditions, which revealed an average dioptric difference from the expected value of -3.60 dioptres (D) right eye (mean 12.40 D, median 12.00 D, S.D. 3.7 D) and -3.50 D left eye (mean 12.50 D, median 12.70 D, S.D. 3.8 D) (p < 0.001 for both eyes). Consequently, we conclude that it cannot be assumed that the amplitude of accommodation is in the expected amplitude range for all children of these ages.
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