| 1. |
- Paramonov, M., et al.
(author)
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A synthesis of cloud condensation nuclei counter (CCNC) measurements within the EUCAARI network
- 2015
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7324. ; 15:21, s. 12211-12229
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cloud condensation nuclei counter (CCNC) measurements performed at 14 locations around the world within the European Integrated project on Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality interactions (EUCAARI) framework have been analysed and discussed with respect to the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation and hygroscopic properties of the atmospheric aerosol. The annual mean ratio of activated cloud condensation nuclei (N-CCN) to the total number concentration of particles (N-CN), known as the activated fraction A, shows a similar functional dependence on supersaturation S at many locations - exceptions to this being certain marine locations, a free troposphere site and background sites in south-west Germany and northern Finland. The use of total number concentration of particles above 50 and 100 nm diameter when calculating the activated fractions (A(50) and A(100), respectively) renders a much more stable dependence of A on S; A(50) and A(100) also reveal the effect of the size distribution on CCN activation. With respect to chemical composition, it was found that the hygroscopicity of aerosol particles as a function of size differs among locations. The hygroscopicity parameter kappa decreased with an increasing size at a continental site in south-west Germany and fluctuated without any particular size dependence across the observed size range in the remote tropical North Atlantic and rural central Hungary. At all other locations kappa increased with size. In fact, in Hyytiala, Vavihill, Jungfraujoch and Pallas the difference in hygroscopicity between Aitken and accumulation mode aerosol was statistically significant at the 5% significance level. In a boreal environment the assumption of a size-independent kappa can lead to a potentially substantial overestimation of N-CCN at S levels above 0.6 %. The same is true for other locations where kappa was found to increase with size. While detailed information about aerosol hygroscopicity can significantly improve the prediction of N-CCN, total aerosol number concentration and aerosol size distribution remain more important parameters. The seasonal and diurnal patterns of CCN activation and hygroscopic properties vary among three long-term locations, highlighting the spatial and temporal variability of potential aerosol-cloud interactions in various environments.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Axmon, A., et al.
(author)
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Drug use and healthcare consumption among persons with intellectual disabilities and dementia: A registry study
- 2016
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In: Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. - : Wiley. - 0964-2633. ; 60:7-8, s. 632-632
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To describe drug use and healthcare utilisation among persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) and dementia in comparison to persons with ID only and dementia only. Method: From the group of persons with ID (n=7936), 216 individuals with dementia were identified. 81 persons with dementia were identified from a general population sample matched by age and sex. Information on outcomes was collected retrospectively from national registries. Healthcare utilisation was measured as the number of hospital visits and the number of hospitalisations. Drug use was assessed for antipsychotics, benzodiazepine derivatives, and anticholinesterases. Results: Persons with ID and dementia had higher healthcare utilisation than persons with ID but without dementia, but similar levels as persons with dementia in the general population sample. They were more likely to use antipsychotics and less likely to use anticholinesterases than persons with dementia but without ID. Conclusions: Dementia in persons with ID seems to increase healthcare utilisation and drug use. However, with respect to healthcare utilisation, the levels do not exceed those found among persons with dementia in the general population.
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| 4. |
- Derwig, Mariette, et al.
(author)
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Child-centred health dialogue for primary prevention of obesity in child health services – a feasibility study
- 2019
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In: - : S. Karger AG. ; , s. 02-092
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims: The aim of this study was to test a Child-Centred Health Dialogue model for primary prevention of obesity for 4-year-old children in Child Health Services, for its feasibility and the responsiveness of its outcomes.Methods: A feasibility study was set up with a non-randomised quasi-experimental cluster design comparing usual care with a structured multicomponent child-centred health dialogue consisting of two parts: 1) a universal part directed to all children and 2) a targeted part for families where the child is identified with overweight. Results: 203 children participated in child-centred health dialogue while 582 children received usual care. Nurses trained in the model were able to execute both the universal health dialogue and the targeted part of the intervention. Tutorship enabled the nurses to reflect on and discuss their experiences, which strengthened their confidence and security. One year after the intervention fewer normal-weight 4-year-olds in the intervention group had developed overweight at the age of 5 compared to the control group and none had developed obesity. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a child-centred, multicomponent, interactive intervention for the promotion of healthy lifestyles and primary prevention of obesity for all 4-year-old children participating in Child Health Services is feasible on a small scale. As almost all parents make use of Child Health Services in Sweden, the findings should be confirmed in a randomised controlled trial before the intervention can be implemented on a larger scale.
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| 5. |
- Kakooza-Mwesige, Angelina, et al.
(author)
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Emerging Viral Infections in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Developing Nervous System : A Mini Review
- 2018
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In: Frontiers in Neurology. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-2295. ; 9
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The global public health concern is heightened over the increasing number of emerging viruses, i.e., newly discovered or previously known that have expanded into new geographical zones. These viruses challenge the health-care systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries from which several of them have originated and been transmitted by insects worldwide. Some of these viruses are neuroinvasive, but have been relatively neglected by neuroscientists. They may provide experiments by nature to give a time window for exposure to a new virus within sizeable, previously non-infected human populations, which, for instance, enables studies on potential long-term or late-onset effects on the developing nervous system. Here, we briefly summarize studies on the developing brain by West Nile, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses, which are mosquito-borne and have spread worldwide out of SSA. They can all be neuroinvasive, but their effects vary from malformations caused by prenatal infections to cognitive disturbances following perinatal or later infections. We also highlight Ebola virus, which can leave surviving children with psychiatric disturbances and cause persistent infections in the non-human primate brain. Greater awareness within the neuroscience community is needed to emphasize the menace evoked by these emerging viruses to the developing brain. In particular, frontline neuroscience research should include neuropediatric follow-up studies in the field on long-term or late-onset cognitive and behavior disturbances or neuropsychiatric disorders. Studies on pathogenetic mechanisms for viral-induced perturbations of brain maturation should be extended to the vulnerable periods when neurocircuit formations are at peaks during infancy and early childhood.
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| 6. |
- Kristensson, J., et al.
(author)
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Patterns of somatic diagnoses in older people with intellectual disabilities : A Swedish 11-year register-based study of inpatient data
- 2016
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In: Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. - : Wiley. - 0964-2633. ; 60:7-8, s. 692-692
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To investigate patterns of somatic inpatient ICD-10 diagnoses in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) 55 years and older in relation to age over an 11-year period, and to compare these patterns with a general population sample. Method: The study was based on Swedish national registers. The ID group (n=7936) comprised people who were aged 55 or above in 2012. They were age- and sexmatched with people from the general population (n=7936). Data about somatic inpatient diagnoses were collected retrospectively for 2002-2012. Results: In several years, several diagnoses were more common in the ID group, particularly diseases in the nervous system (OR from 2.06 to 31.75), respiratory (OR from 1.78 to 4.08) and genitourinary diseases (OR from 1.59 to 11.50), infections (OR from 1.78 to 4.08) and external causes of morbidity (OR from 1.53 to 4.08). The oldest persons (70+ years) in the ID group had less occurrence of cardiovascular (OR from 0.42 to 0.72), musculoskeletal diseases (OR from 0.32 to 0.53) and tumours (OR from 0.26 to 0.51). Conclusions: Older people with ID are less likely to have some diagnoses but more likely to have others.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Pålsson, Petra, et al.
(author)
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A survey of contemporary antenatal parental education in Sweden : What is offered to expectant parents and midwives’ experiences
- 2019
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In: Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. - : Elsevier BV. - 1877-5756. ; 20, s. 13-19
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To explore how antenatal parental education is provided in southern Sweden and midwives’ experiences of it. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with data collection from 66 antenatal clinics and 189 midwives during 2016. Descriptive and comparative statistics, chi-square and t-tests, were used to present the findings. Results: Antenatal parental education was most commonly offered in small parental groups and the number of hours provided varied between two and ten (mean 5.8) hours. A common and structured program for the sessions was used at 37.3% of the clinics. Normal birth, pain relief, partner role during birth, breastfeeding advantages and breastfeeding initiation were the topics most extensively covered. Topic coverage was in 12 topics, mostly related to the time after birth, lower than midwives’ rated importance of the topic: p-values between 0.05 and <0.01. Only 14.2% of the midwives often provided guidance to websites. Although midwives enjoyed working with antenatal parental education, they expressed lack of organizational support and lack of personal skills in group leadership and teaching. Years of experience did not significantly affect their self-rated skills in group leadership or teaching. Conclusion: These results contribute to knowledge about contemporary antenatal parental education in Sweden. Our results showed that antenatal parental education is not always in accordance with parents’ expectations, especially concerning early parenthood and guidance on the internet. To provide antenatal parental education tailored to the needs of expectant parents it is vital to develop evidence-based guidelines and to address midwives’ needs for improved skills in group leadership and teaching.
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| 9. |
- Pålsson, Petra, et al.
(author)
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First-time fathers experiences of their prenatal preparation in relation to challenges met in the early parenthood period : Implications for early parenthood preparation
- 2017
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In: Midwifery. - : Elsevier BV. - 0266-6138. ; 50, s. 86-92
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective to describe first-time fathers experiences of their prenatal preparation in relation to challenges met in the early parenthood period. Design a qualitative study was conducted and data was analysed with a phenomenographical approach. Setting and participants 15 first-time fathers were recruited from three postnatal units in southern Sweden and interviewed approximately one month after their baby was born. Measurements and findings three categories and 14 conceptions about fathers' experiences of their preparation emerged from the data. ‘Acquiring knowledge and forming realistic expectations' was essential for ‘Developing strategies' and ‘Being facilitated and supported' enhanced these processes. Key conclusions and implications for practice supporting fathers to develop strategies for life with a new baby and providing expert guidance to fruitful and accurate information may help the construction of a fatherhood identity and strengthen the fatherhood role. The findings can be used to develop a parental preparation for early parenthood that will correspond to fathers' needs.
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| 10. |
- Pålsson, Petra, et al.
(author)
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"I didn't know what to ask about": First-time mothers' conceptions of prenatal preparation for the early parenthood period.
- 2018
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In: Journal of Perinatal Education. - : Springer Publishing Company. - 1058-1243 .- 1548-8519. ; 27:3, s. 163-174
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this phenomenographic study was to describe first-time mothers’ conceptions of prenatal preparation for the early parenthood period in relation to their experiences of early parenthood. Eighteen first-time mothers were interviewed approximately 1 month after giving birth. The categories identified in the analysis were: accessing appropriate sources of support, gaining knowledge to form realistic expectations, and mobilizing and strengthening personal resources. First-time mothers want health professionals to actively address postnatal issues as they have difficulties in knowing prenatally what knowledge will prepare them for early parenthood. Both professional and peer support during pregnancy were conceived as important for gaining knowledge. Professionals can support by guidance to reliable sources of information and encouraging personal reflections and partner communication.
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