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- Rippner Blomqvist, Brita, et al.
(author)
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Disruption of viscoelastic beta-lactoglobulin surface layers at the air-water interface by nonionic polymeric surfactants
- 2004
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In: Langmuir. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 20:23, s. 10150-10158
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nonequilibrium interfacial layers formed by competitive adsorption of beta-lactoglobulin and the nonionic triblock copolymer PEO99-PPO65-PEO99 (F127) to the air-water interface were investigated in order to explain the influence of polymeric surfactants on protein film surface rheology and foam stability. Surface dilatational and shear rheological methods, surface tension measurements, dynamic thin-film measurements, diffusion measurements (from fluorescence recovery after photo bleaching), and determinations of foam stability were used as methods. The high surface viscoelasticity, both the shear and dilatational, of the protein films was significantly reduced by coadsorption of polymeric surfactant. The drainage rate of single thin films, in the presence of P-lactoglobulin, increased with the amount of added F 127, but equilibrium F127 films were found to be thicker than beta-lactoglobulin films, even at low concentration of the polymeric surfactant. It is concluded that the effect of the nonionic triblock copolymer on the interfacial rheology of beta-lactoglobulin layers is similar to that of low molecular weight surfactants. They differ however in that F127 increases the thickness of thin liquid films. In addition, the significant destabilizing effect of low molecular weight surfactants on protein foams is not found in the investigated system. This is explained as due to long-range steric forces starting to stabilize the foam films at low concentrations of F127.
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- Räty, Lena K.A, et al.
(author)
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The relationship between illness severity, sociodemographic factors, general self-concept, and illness-specific attitude in Swedish adolescents with epilepsy
- 2004
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In: Seizure. - : Elsevier BV. - 1059-1311 .- 1532-2688. ; 13:6, s. 375-382
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between the epilepsy condition (illness severity), sociodemographic factors, general self-concept, and illness-specific attitude in adolescents with uncomplicated epilepsy.Methods: Adolescents, aged 13–22, fulfilling criteria registered in four Swedish hospitals, answered questionnaires (n=149). The instruments “I think I am” and “Sense of coherence” measured the patients’ general self-concept. The “Child Attitude Toward Illness Scale” measured illness-specific attitude. A summary score (index) calculated from seizure frequency, seizure type, and antiepileptic drug (AED) with side effects measured “Illness Severity”.Results: Illness severity was significantly related to the participants’ general self-concept, as well as to their attitude toward their condition; i.e. higher illness severity scores were correlated with lower sense of coherence (SOC), poorer self-esteem, and a more negative attitude towards the epilepsy condition. Females had more severe illness according to the Illness Severity Index, with almost 80% found in the moderate and high severity groups as compared to 63% of males in the moderate/high severity groups.Conclusions: It was concluded that the severity of the epilepsy condition was related to the adolescents’ general self-concept and illness-specific attitude, but further research is needed to understand the causality of the relationship. The brief assessment of illness severity, constructed and used in this study should be addressed and developed further.
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- Sandin Bojö, A-K, et al.
(author)
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Midwifery care : development of an instrument to measure quality based on the World Health Organization's classification of care in normal birth
- 2004
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In: Journal of Clinical Nursing. - : Blackwell Munksgaard. - 0962-1067 .- 1365-2702. ; 13, s. 75-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims and objectives: The aim of the study was to develop an instrument to measure midwifery care in relation to World Health Organization's classification of care in normal birth and to test the instrument for content validity and inter-rater reliability.Methods: The Delphi method was used for development of the instrument and to elicit evidence of content validity. Six experts from three different geographical regions in Sweden, representing clinically working midwives, lecturers in midwifery and obstetricians, participated in the first part of the study. The instrument was tested for inter-rater reliability in an exploratory study by two midwives and one of the authors. Data were analysed using percentage of agreement level and the Kappa coefficient.Results: Five expert rounds were needed to reach consensus for content validity. The inter-rater reliability test showed high agreement levels (95.9, 94.2 and 95.7%) and good to very good Kappa coefficients (0.74-1.0). The final instrument consisted of 78 items divided into five sections: background (five items); practices which are demonstrably useful and should be encouraged (55 items); practices which are clearly harmful or ineffective and should be eliminated (five items); practices for which insufficient evidence exists to support a clear recommendation and which should be used with caution while further research clarifies the issue (four items); and finally practices which are frequently used inappropriately (nine items).Conclusions and relevance to clinical practice: The instrument can be used at a labour ward to measure documented care and quality of midwifery care. The results can be used to identify areas for improvements, to develop guidelines towards evidence-based care and to improve documentation. However, the present study should be regarded as an exploratory study and the feasibility of the instrument remains to be tested in empirical studies.
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