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- Wettermark, B., et al.
(author)
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The Nordic prescription databases as a resource for pharmacoepidemiological researcha literature review
- 2013
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In: Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety. - : Wiley. - 1053-8569 .- 1099-1557. ; 22:7, s. 691-699
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose All five Nordic countries have nationwide prescription databases covering all dispensed drugs, with potential for linkage to outcomes. The aim of this review is to present an overview of therapeutic areas studied and methods applied in pharmacoepidemiologic studies using data from these databases. Methods The study consists of a Medline-based structured literature review of scientific papers published during 2005-2010 using data from the prescription databases in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, covering 25 million inhabitants. Relevant studies were analyzed in terms of pharmacological group, study population, outcomes examined, type of study (drug utilization vs. effect of drug therapy), country of origin, and extent of cross-national collaboration. Results A total of 515 studies were identified. Of these, 262 were conducted in Denmark, 97 in Finland, 4 in Iceland, 87 in Norway, and 61 in Sweden. Four studies used data from more than one Nordic country. The most commonly studied drugs were those acting on the nervous system, followed by cardiovascular drugs and gastrointestinal/endocrine drugs. A total of 228 studies examined drug utilization and 263 focused on the effects and safety of drug therapy. Pregnant women were the most commonly studied population in safety studies, whereas prescribers' adherence to guidelines was the most frequent topic of drug utilization studies. Conclusions The Nordic prescription databases, with their possibility of record-linkage, represent an outstanding resource for assessing the beneficial and adverse effects of drug use in large populations, under routine care conditions, and with the potential for long-term follow-up. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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- Poggesi, A., et al.
(author)
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Cerebral white matter changes are associated with abnormalities on neurological examination in non-disabled elderly: the LADIS study
- 2013
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In: Journal of Neurology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-5354 .- 1432-1459. ; 260:4, s. 1014-1021
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cerebral white matter changes (WMC) are associated with motor, cognitive, mood, urinary disturbances, and disability, but little is known about the prevalence of neurological signs in patients with these brain lesions. We assessed the presence and occurrence of neurological abnormalities over a 3-year period and their possible associations with WMC in a cohort of initially non-disabled elderly subjects. Data from the multicenter Leukoaraiosis And DISability study were used. A standard neurological examination was performed at baseline and at each of the annual follow-up visits. A standard MRI scan was performed at baseline and after 3-years. WMC severity was graded as mild, moderate, or severe on the Fazekas scale, while the Rotterdam scale was used to assess progression. Infarcts and their occurrence were also assessed. Six hundred and thirty-nine non-disabled subjects were enrolled (mean age 74.1 +/- A 5.0, M/F: 288/351). Severe WMC at baseline were associated with gait and stance abnormalities, upper motor signs, and fingertap slowing. This effect was independent of age, sex, lacunar and non-lacunar infarcts. The occurrence of stance abnormalities, upper motor signs, primitive reflexes and fingertap slowing during the 3-year follow-up period was associated with both baseline WMC load and their progression. The occurrence of the same abnormalities plus extrapyramidal and primitive reflexes was associated with incident lacunar infarcts. In our cohort of non-disabled elders, severe WMC were associated with the presence and the occurrence of neurological signs, independently of other vascular brain lesions, confirming that these lesions have clinical relevance.
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- Firbank, M. J., et al.
(author)
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Relationship between progression of brain white matter changes and late-life depression: 3-year results from the LADIS study
- 2012
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In: British Journal of Psychiatry. - : Royal College of Psychiatrists. - 0007-1250 .- 1472-1465. ; 201:1, s. 40-45
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Brain white matter changes (WMC) and depressive symptoms are linked, but the directionality of this association remains unclear. Aims To investigate the relationship between baseline and incident depression and progression of white matter changes. Method In a longitudinal multicentre pan-European study (Leukoaraiosis and Disability in the elderly, LADIS), participants aged over 64 underwent baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical assessments. Repeat scans were obtained at 3 years. Depressive outcomes were assessed in terms of depressive episodes and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Progression of WMC was measured using the modified Rotterdam Progression scale. Results Progression of WMC was significantly associated with incident depression during year 3 of the study (P = 0.002) and remained significant after controlling for transition to disability, baseline WMC and baseline history of depression. There was no significant association between progression of WMC and GDS score, and no significant relationship between progression of WMC and history of depression at baseline. Conclusions Our results support the vascular depression hypothesis and implicate WMC as causal in the pathogenesis of late-life depression.
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- Kreisel, S. H., et al.
(author)
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Deterioration of Gait and Balance over Time: The Effects of Age-Related White Matter Change - The LADIS Study
- 2013
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In: Cerebrovascular Diseases. - : S. Karger AG. - 1015-9770 .- 1421-9786. ; 35:6, s. 544-553
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Cross-sectional studies have shown an association between the severity of age-related white matter change (ARWMC) and lower body motor function. However, the association between prevalent ARWMC and incident deterioration of balance and gait remains insufficiently investigated. This study investigates if the degree of prevalent ARWMC has a differential effect on lower body motor function as it changes over time, hypothesizing that individuals with more severe baseline white matter pathology experience greater clinical deterioration independent of potential confounders. This is of clinical relevance: given the increasing use of neuroimaging, incidental white matter pathology is common; being able to delineate natural trajectories of balance and gait function given ARWMC may improve patient advice and help optimize allocation of care. Methods: 639 non-disabled elderly individuals with prevalent ARWMC (grading of severity of ARWMC using the Fazekas scale) were followed up yearly for 3 years, as part of the Leukoaraiosis and Disability Study. The primary outcome variable, reflecting the temporal course of gait and balance function, was the change of scores on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) over time versus the severity of ARWMC. We used linear mixed modelling to analyse change over time. Explorative analysis was carried out investigating the effect of age on potential deterioration of gait and balance function. We used propensity scores to adjust for multiple confounders that affect both the exposure (i. e. ARWMC) and outcome. Results: Subjects' lower body motor function deteriorated by 2.6% per year. However, after adjustment for baseline motor impairment and potential confounders, only subjects with moderate [-0.22 points per year on the SPPB (equals -2.3%); 95% CI -0.35 to -0.09, p < 0.001] or severe [-0.46 points per year (equals -4.7%); 95% CI -0.63 to -0.28, p < 0.0001] ARWMC show a loss of function. Age shows differential effects: relatively younger elderly subjects have similar temporal dynamics in SPPB change independent of their individual degree of ARWMC severity; however, subjects with severe ARWMC and who are older than 75.9 years deteriorate significantly more rapidly than their counterparts with only mild or moderate white matter pathology. Conclusion: Only moderate and severe ARWMC is independently associated -on average -with a deterioration of gait and balance. Albeit the possibility of unmeasured confounding and other methodological constraints, there is nonetheless evidence of large interindividual variability: some subjects with moderate or severe ARWMC stay stable over time or even show improvement. Furthermore, there is explorative analysis showing that younger elderly subjects may be able to better compensate even severe ARWMC. These individuals' gait and balance function stays relatively stable over time, whereas their older counterparts deteriorate significantly. This may point towards a threshold effect given ARWMC.
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- Verdelho, A., et al.
(author)
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White matter changes and diabetes predict cognitive decline in the elderly The LADIS Study
- 2010
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In: Neurology. - 0028-3878 .- 1526-632X. ; 75:2, s. 160-167
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study if age-related white matter changes (WMC) and vascular risk factors were predictors of cognitive decline in elderly subjects with WMC living independently. METHODS: The Leukoaraiosis and Disability prospective multinational European study (LADIS) evaluates the impact of WMC on the transition of independent elderly subjects into disability. Independent elderly were enrolled due to the presence of WMC. Subjects were evaluated yearly during 3 years with a comprehensive clinical protocol and a neuropsychological battery. Additionally, dementia, subtypes of dementia, and cognitive decline without dementia were classified according to usual clinical criteria. MRI was performed at entry and at the end of the study. RESULTS: A total of 639 subjects were included (74.1 +/- 5 years, 55% women, 9.6 +/- 3.8 years of schooling). At end of follow-up, 90 patients had dementia and 147 had cognitive impairment no dementia. Using Cox regression analysis, WMC severity independently predicted cognitive decline (dementia and not dementia), independently of age, education, and medial temporal atrophy (MTA). Diabetes at baseline was the only vascular risk factor that independently predicted cognitive decline during follow-up, controlling for age, education, WMC severity, and temporal atrophy. Considering subtypes of dementia, Alzheimer disease (AD) was predicted only by MTA, while vascular dementia was predicted by previous stroke, WMC severity, and MTA. CONCLUSION: WMC severity and diabetes are independent predictors of cognitive decline in an initially nondisabled elderly population. Vascular dementia is predicted by previous stroke and WMC, while AD is predicted only by MTA.
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- Barnes, J. N., et al.
(author)
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Aging enhances autonomic support of blood pressure in women
- 2014
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In: Hypertension. - 0194-911X .- 1524-4563. ; 63:2, s. 303-308
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The autonomic nervous system plays a central role in both acute and chronic blood pressure regulation in humans. The activity of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system is positively associated with peripheral resistance, an important determinant of mean arterial pressure in men. In contrast, there is no association between sympathetic nerve activity and peripheral resistance in women before menopause, yet a positive association after menopause. We hypothesized that autonomic support of blood pressure is higher after menopause in women. We examined the effect of ganglionic blockade on arterial blood pressure and how this relates to baseline muscle sympathetic nerve activity in 12 young (25±1 years) and 12 older postmenopausal (61±2 years) women. The women were studied before and during autonomic blockade using trimethaphan camsylate. At baseline, muscle sympathetic nerve activity burst frequency and burst incidence were higher in the older women (33±3 versus 15±1 bursts/min; 57±5 versus 25±2 bursts/100 heartbeats, respectively; P<0.05). Muscle sympathetic nerve activity bursts were abolished by trimethaphan within minutes. Older women had a greater decrease in mean arterial pressure (-29±2 versus-9±2 mm Hg; P<0.01) and total peripheral resistance (-10±1 versus-5±1 mm Hg/L per minute; P<0.01) during trimethaphan. Baseline muscle sympathetic nerve activity was associated with the decrease in mean arterial pressure during trimethaphan (r=-0.74; P<0.05). In summary, our results suggest that autonomic support of blood pressure is greater in older women compared with young women and that elevated sympathetic nerve activity in older women contributes importantly to the increased incidence of hypertension after menopause. © 2013 American Heart Association, Inc.
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- Bravender, T., et al.
(author)
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Classification of Eating Disturbance in Children and Adolescents: Proposed Changes for the DSM-V
- 2010
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In: European Eating Disorders Review. - : Wiley. - 1072-4133 .- 1099-0968. ; 18:2, s. 79-89
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Childhood and adolescence are critical periods of neural development and physical growth. The malnutrition and related medical complications resulting from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and eating disorder not otherwise specified may have more severe and potentially more protracted consequences during youth than during other age periods. The consensus opinion of an international workgroup of experts on the diagnosis and treatment of child and adolescent eating disorders is that (a) lower and more developmentally sensitive threshold's of symptom seventy (e.g lower frequency of purging behaviours, significant deviations from growth curves as indicators of clinical seventy) be used as diagnostic boundaries for children and adolescents, (b) behavioural indicators of psychological features of eating disorders be considered even in the absence of direct self-report of such symptoms and (C) multiple informants (e.g parents) be used to ascertain symptom profiles. Collectively, these recommendations will permit earlier identification and intervention to prevent the exacerbation of eating disorder symptoms. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association
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- Glover, A. G., et al.
(author)
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A live video observatory reveals temporal processes at a shelf-depth whale-fall
- 2010
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In: Cahiers De Biologie Marine. - 0007-9723. ; 51:4, s. 375-381
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There have been very few studies of temporal processes at chemosynthetic ecosystems, even at relatively more accessible shallow water sites. Here we report the development and deployment of a simple cabled video observatory at 30 m water depth in Gullmarsfjorden, Sweden. The camera provides a live video feed to the internet of faunal activity in the experiments, which to date have included 5 separate whale-fall deployments. Our data suggest that the time to decomposition of small cetacean carcasses at shelf-depth settings is considerably slower than at deep-sea sites. We have also provided a new methodology for the deployment of low-cost live video observatories at up to 30 m water depth, which can be used both for research and outreach activities.
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