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- Ekblad, S., et al.
(author)
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Disturbances in postural balance are common in postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms
- 2000
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In: Climacteric. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1369-7137 .- 1473-0804. ; 3:3, s. 192-198
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To establish the prevalence of unsteadiness and rotatory vertigo in peri- and postmenopausal women, and whether balance disturbances are more common in women with vasomotor symptoms and without hormone replacement therapy (HRT). METHOD: A validated questionnaire was sent to all 1523 women aged 54 or 55 years in Linköping, Sweden. RESULTS: Daily or weekly unsteadiness was reported by 5%, and daily or weekly rotatory vertigo by 4% of all women. The frequency of vasomotor symptoms correlated with reported unsteadiness (rs = 0.23, p < 0.001). Fourteen per cent of women with daily vasomotor symptoms reported weekly or daily unsteadiness, compared with 3% of those without vasomotor symptoms (odds ratio (OR) 7.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.72-15.45). The frequency of vasomotor symptoms correlated with rotatory vertigo (rs = 0.19, p < 0.001). Ten per cent of women with daily vasomotor symptoms reported weekly or daily rotatory vertigo, compared with 2% of women without vasomotor symptoms (OR 5.21, 95% CI 1.07-25.52). No correlation was seen between vasomotor symptoms and falls. Users of HRT had the same prevalence of balance disturbances as non-users. CONCLUSIONS: Women with frequent vasomotor symptoms seem to run a greater risk of unsteadiness and rotatory vertigo than do women without symptoms. This association may not be explained by means of a cross-sectional study, but there might exist a causal connection between vasomotor symptoms and balance disturbances.
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- Hammar, Mats, 1950-, et al.
(author)
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Few oligo-amenorrheic athletes have vasomotor symptoms
- 2000
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In: Maturitas. - 0378-5122 .- 1873-4111. ; 34:3, s. 219-225
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To assess whether women with athletic oligo-amenorrhea have vasomotor symptoms. Material and methods: A mailed questionnaire was sent to 252 female athletes about vasomotor symptoms. Identical questions were also mailed to 1523 peri- and postmenopausal women. Results: The prevalence of vasomotor symptoms was low in female athletes with oligo- and amenorrhea and similar to that found in athletes with regular menstruations. The prevalence was significantly lower than in menopausal women. Although more than a third of the menopausal women had hormone replacement therapy, 30% of them still had vasomotor symptoms at least every week compared with only 2% of the oligo-amenorrheic athletes. Conclusion: Vasomotor symptoms are very uncommon in oligo-amenorrheic athletes, although many of them are hypoestrogenic. It was suggested that one factor contributing to these symptoms around menopause is low hypothalamic activity of ▀-endorphins, which makes the thermoregulatory centre labile. On the other hand, supraphysiological activity in hypothalamic ▀-endorphins may cause the oligo-amenorrhea in athletes, but may stabilise the thermoregulatory centre and thus prevent hot flushes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
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- Spetz, Anna-Clara, 1973-, et al.
(author)
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Hot flushes in a male population aged 55, 65, and 75 years, living in the community of Linköping, Sweden
- 2003
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In: Menopause. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1072-3714 .- 1530-0374. ; 10:1, s. 81-87
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE:Hot flushes are as common in castrated men as in menopausal women. We investigated whether hot flushes exist in a normal aging male population and to what extent.DESIGN:A questionnaire was sent to all men living in Linköping, Sweden, who were 55, 65, and 75 years old ( = 1,885). The questionnaire asked for demographic data, medical history, mood status, medication, castrational therapy, and smoking, exercise, and alcohol habits, among other items. We asked specifically for current hot flushes unrelated to exercise or a warm environment.RESULTS:Of the questionnaires received, 1,381 were eligible for evaluation; 33 were analyzed separately because these men had been castrated. Hot flushes of any frequency were reported by 33.1% of noncastrated men, 4.3% reported flushes at least a few times per week, and 1.3% reported daily flushes. Half of the men reporting flushes were also bothered by them, ie, almost every sixth man in total. We found a relation between occurrence of hot flushes and other symptoms thought to be related to low testosterone concentration, such as decreased muscle strength or endurance, decreased enjoyment of life, sadness or grumpiness, and lack of energy ( < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Hot flushes occur in one third of a population of noncastrated older men, approximately half of whom consider flushes as bothersome. Neither the mechanisms nor whether the symptoms would respond to testosterone supplementation is known. Androgen substitution to treat symptoms possibly related to a male climacteric is still controversial. Studies are needed to evaluate the needs for and the effects of androgen treatment on vasomotor symptoms.
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- Brynhildsen, Jan, 1962-, et al.
(author)
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Attitudes among students and teachers on vertical integration between clinical medicine and basic science within a problem-based undergraduate medical curriculum
- 2002
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In: Medical teacher. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0142-159X .- 1466-187X. ; 24:3, s. 286-288
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Important elements in the curriculum at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Link÷ping are vertical integration, i.e. integration between the clinical and basic science sections of the curriculum, and horizontal integration between different subject areas. Integration throughout the whole curriculum is time-consuming for both teachers and students and hard work is required for planning, organization and execution. The aim was to assess the importance of vertical and horizontal integration in an undergraduate medical curriculum, according to opinions among students and teachers. In a questionnaire 102 faculty teachers and 106 students were asked about the importance of 14 different components of the undergraduate medical curriculum including vertical and horizontal integration. They were asked to assign between one and six points to each component (6 points = extremely important for the quality of the curriculum, 1 point = unimportant). Students as well as teachers appreciated highly both forms of integration. Students scored horizontal integration slightly but significantly higher than the teachers (median 6 vs 5 points, p=0.009, Mann-Whitney U-test), whereas teachers scored vertical integration higher than students (6 vs 5, p=0.019, Mann-Whitney U-test). Both students and teachers considered horizontal and vertical integration to be highly important components of the undergraduate medical programme. We believe both kinds of integration support problem-based learning and stimulate deep and lifelong learning and suggest that integration should always be considered deeply when a new curriculum is planned for undergraduate medical education.
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- Brynhildsen, Jan, 1962-, et al.
(author)
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Low dose transdermal estradiol/norethisterone acetate treatment over 2 years does not cause endometrial proliferation in postmenopausal women
- 2002
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In: Menopause. - : Raven Press. - 1072-3714 .- 1530-0374. ; 9:2, s. 137-144
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: We investigated the effects of 2-year transdermal continuous combined estradiol (0.025 mg/day) and norethisterone acetate (0.125 mg/day) (Estragest TTS) on bleeding and on the endometrium. Design: This double-blind, randomized, multicenter, parallel, 1-year trial enrolled 266 healthy women at least 2 years past menopause with intact uteri. Patients received a transdermal patch delivering either 0.025 mg estradiol and 0.125 mg norethisterone acetate daily or placebo. Of the 266 women initially included, 135 (96 Estragest TTS, 39 placebo) completed a second year open follow-up, where all women had the estradiol/norethisterone patch. Endometrial biopsies were performed at weeks 0, 48 (n = 171), and 96 (n =109). Effects on endometrial morphology and uterine bleeding were studied. Results: The overall incidence of endometrial hyperplasia after treatment with the estradiol/norethisterone acetate patch for one year was 0.8% with only one case of atypical hyperplasia. There were no clinically significant changes in endometrial thickness in either treatment group. The proportion of bleed-free patients with the estradiol/norethisterone acetate transdermal system increased from 55% in cycles 1-3 to 83% in cycles 10-12. By the 12th cycle, 92% of patients receiving estradiol/norethisterone acetate patches were bleed-free. No additional hyperplasia was seen during the second year follow-up. Conclusions: A continuous combined transdermal patch delivering 0.025 mg estradiol/day and 0.125 mg norethisterone acetate/day provided good endometrial protection. The dose maintained a consistently high rate of amenorrhea in postmenopausal women.
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- Dahle, L. O., et al.
(author)
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Pros and cons of vertical integration between clinical medicine and basic science within a problem-based undergraduate medical curriculum : examples and experiences from Linköping, Sweden
- 2002
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In: Medical teacher. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0142-159X .- 1466-187X. ; 24:3, s. 280-285
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Problem-based learning (PBL), combined with early patient contact, multiprofessional education and emphasis on development of communications skills, has become the basis for the medical curriculum at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Link ping (FHS), Sweden, which was started in 1986. Important elements in the curriculum are vertical integration, i.e. integration between the clinical and basic science parts of the curriculum and horizontal integration between different subject areas. This article discusses the importance of vertical integration in an undergraduate medical curriculum, according to experiences from the Faculty of Health Sciences in Link ping, and also give examples on how it has been implemented during the latest 15 years. Results and views put forward in published articles concerning vertical integration within undergraduate medical education are discussed in relation to the experiences in Link ping. Vertical integration between basic sciences and clinical medicine in a PBL setting has been found to stimulate profound rather than superficial learning, and thereby stimulates better understanding of important biomedical principles. Integration probably leads to better retention of knowledge and the ability to apply basic science principles in the appropriate clinical context. Integration throughout the whole curriculum entails a lot of time and work in respect of planning, organization and execution. The teachers have to be deeply involved and enthusiastic and have to cooperate over departmental borders, which may produce positive spin-off effects in teaching and research but also conflicts that have to be resolved. The authors believe vertical integration supports PBL and stimulates deep and lifelong learning.
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8. |
- Ekblad, Sara, et al.
(author)
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Estrogen effects on postural balance in postmenopausal women without vasomotor symptoms : A randomized masked trial
- 2000
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In: Obstetrics and Gynecology. - 0029-7844 .- 1873-233X. ; 95:2, s. 278-283
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To assess whether estrogen treatment given to postmenopausal women without vasomotor symptoms improves balance more than placebo. Methods: Forty healthy postmenopausal women without vasomotor symptoms were randomized to transdermal 17▀-estradiol (E2) 50 ╡g/day for 14 weeks or identical transdermal placebo patches. Postural balance was measured with dynamic posturography before and after 4, 12, and 14 weeks of therapy. In this test, the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems were provoked with increasing difficulty and body sway was measured with a dual forceplate. A low score showed large sway and a score of 100 showed no sway at all. Results: Thirty-eight women completed the study. Both groups had normal balance for their ages and near maximum scores in the three easier balance tests at baseline. In the most difficult test, both groups improved their postural balance significantly (from 13 to 32 and from 22 to 39, respectively) after 4 weeks. Thereafter, no change was seen. One problem was low statistical power, but the relative change in balance did not differ between groups. The comparison did not show even a minute advantage of E2 over placebo, so a study with higher power would probably not have shown a more pronounced effect of estrogen than placebo. The change over time did not differ between groups, which indicates a significant learning effect.Conclusion: In women without vasomotor symptoms, estrogen therapy did not seem to increase postural balance significantly more than placebo. However, we could not rule out that estrogens affect postural balance in women with vasomotor symptoms. Copyright (C) 2000 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
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