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Löfgren, Magnus, 1979-
(författare)
Behavioral effects of female sex steroid hormones : models of PMS and PMDD in Wistar rats
2009
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
Background Animal models can be used to mimic human conditions of psychopathology, and also as pre-clinical models to evaluate candidate drugs. With hormonal treatment it is possible to produce behavior in the rat which corresponds to the mental symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMS affects 25-30 % of all women in fertile age and 3-8% are diagnosed with the more severe condition PMDD. The cardinal mental symptoms are; irritability, mood-swings, depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, difficulties with concentration and memory and learning difficulties. The symptoms of PMS/PMDD occur in the luteal phase in conjunction with increasing concentrations of progesterone (P4) and P4-metabolites. In anovulatory cycles the symptoms are absent. The hormones which produce the monthly reoccurring negative symptoms on mood are foremost the neuroactive metabolites; allopregnanolone (ALLO) and tetrahydro-deoxycorticosterone (THDOC). ALLO is produced by the corpus luteum, but can also be synthesized in the brain, both ALLO and THDOC can also be released from the adrenal cortex during stress. These steroids are active on the inhibitory GABA neurotransmitter system through the GABAA receptor, and the effects are similar to that of alcohol and benzodiazepines. These steroids have strong sedative and hypnotic effects. A paradox is that some individuals seem to react with negative mood on sex steroids while all fertile women have the cyclical steroid changes during the menstrual cycle. Some individuals are more sensitive to neuroactive steroids with influences of personality, heritability and stress factors. Aims The thesis aims were to develop pre-clinical animal models of PMS/PMDD and to investigate induction of ALLO tolerance, individual sensitivity to neurosteroids and the interactions between chronic social stress and neurosteroids. Methods In these studies male and female Wistar rats were used to test steroid hormone effects on learning and memory and behaviors analogous to negative mood symptoms. This was accomplished through hormonal treatment and a subsequent withdrawal period from P4 (P4) + estradiol (E2) (PEWD), or ALLO. To assess tolerance, memory and learning in the Morris water maze (MWM) was studied. Anxiety-like behaviors were tested with the elevated plus maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), and the intruder test (IT). The EPM or OFT was used to classify the rats as high or low responders on risk-taking and explorative behavior (HR/LR). For social ranking order assessment the tube test (TT) and food competition test (FCT) were used. Chronic social stress was accomplished through co-habituation with two older rats (chronic subordination stress). In female rats the estrous cycle followed using staining of vaginal smears. Concentration of corticosterone (CORT) was measured by radio-immuno-assay (RIA). Results In the MWM ALLO pre-treatment produced tolerance to the acute negative ALLO effects. Both male and female rats showed behavioral correlations between the EPM and OFT tests, and correlations were also seen in CORT levels. Individuals with the stable trait of high risk-taking and explorative behavior (HR) were more sensitive to PEWD induction of anxiety-like behavior. These animals also showed decreased CORT levels during withdrawal. Chronic subordination stress enhanced the response to PEWD on measures of locomotor activity and social anxiety-like behavior. Conclusions It is possible to induce tolerance to the negative ALLO effects on learning and memory. The animal models of anxiety-like behavior show an individual PEWD response profile where HR rats are more sensitive. Exposure to chronic social stress enhanced the PEWD response. Hence there are both inherent and environmental factors behind the behavioral response to steroid hormones in rats.
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Franzén, Karin, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
Urinary incontinence in women is not exclusively a medical problem : a population-based study on urinary incontinence and general living conditions
2009
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology. - London : Taylor & Francis. - 0036-5599 .- 1651-2065. ; 43:3, s. 226-232
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyse differences in general health and general living conditions between women with and without urinary incontinence (UI).MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in Orebro County, Sweden. A public health questionnaire, "Life and Health", was sent to a randomly selected sample of the population. The questionnaire consisted of 87 questions on broad aspects of general and psychiatric health. An additional questionnaire was enclosed for those respondents who reported experiencing UI. The data were analysed using binary logistic regression. The final study population constituted 4609 women, 1332 of whom had completed both questionnaires. The remaining 3277 had completed only the Life and Health questionnaire. Effect measures were odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).RESULTS: Statistically significant associations were found between UI and the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.20-1.76), fatigue and sleeping disorders (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.30-1.95), feelings of humiliation (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.12-1.50), financial problems (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.11-1.66), and reluctance to seek medical care (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.21-1.68).CONCLUSION: UI among women is commonly associated with a number of different psychosocial problems as well as an expressed feeling of vulnerability.
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Franzén, Karin, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
Urinary incontinence : evaluation of an information campaign directed towards the general public
2008
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0036-5599 .- 1651-2065. ; 42:6, s. 534-538
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Objective. To study and evaluate the effect of an information campaign in the form of a brochure on urinary incontinence (UI) directed towards the general public, concerning knowledge, individual health behaviour, self-reported healthcare utilization and how the information was perceived.Material and methods. Within a community in central Sweden a random sample of the population, in age groups from 18 years upwards, was selected from the population registry, resulting in a total sample of 3658 people. The study group was sent the brochure "Treatment of urinary incontinence", produced by SBU (Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care) in March 2003 and a questionnaire 1–2 months after the brochure was received.Results. The overall response rate was 47.5%. Eighty per cent of the responders stated UI as an important health problem in society and 66% that they had gained new knowledge on UI. Twenty-eight per cent of the responders reported a current or previous history of UI, of whom 49% felt that they had received useful information for self-treatment and 21% had begun self-treatment.Conclusion. This population-based study found that the distribution of a brochure on UI to the general public was well received and can be an efficient method to spread knowledge and encourage self-management.
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Munthe, Christian, 1962
(författare)
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: Ethical Aspects
2006
Ingår i: Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. - Chichester, UK : John Wiley & Sons.
Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
In preimplantation genetic diagnosis, genetic traits of embryos are detected before the initiation of pregnancy. Although tampering with embryos is morally controversial, this procedure may seem to reduce ethical problems in prenatal diagnosis by offering the possibility of selecting offspring, on the basis of genetic information, more efficiently and without any need to consider abortion. However, counseling of patients becomes more complicated, and the procedure may seem to make the outside influence of their decisions easier to both achieve and justify. As a consequence, preimplantation genetic diagnosis raises concerns about the connection between the preselection of children on genetic grounds and the discrimination of disabled people. Moreover, it introduces the new ethical problem of whether or not the selection of future children on the basis of nonpathological traits should be acceptable practice.
