Effective communications on invasive alien species: Identifying communication needs of Swedish domestic garden owners.

Invasive alien species threaten biodiversity with domestic gardens acting as a major pathway for the introduction of alien species. Even though the Nordic region is not currently a hotspot for biological invasions, the number of invasions in the Nordic area has been predicted to increase due to climate change. Given a time lag between introduction and invasion, many non-invasive horticultural alien species already introduced into gardens may become invasive in the future. This study aimed to identify the communication needs of Swedish garden owners regarding their management of invasive alien species. A survey among domestic garden owners, informed by topic specialists and local area experts, and interviews with garden owners were conducted in three different bio-climatic areas in a latitudinal gradient across Sweden. The questions targeted invasive alien species and their relations to biodiversity loss and climate change, as well as measures taken to control these species. Analysing the survey data collected in relation to measures taken to control invasive species, Bayesian Additive Regression Tree (BART) modelling was used to identify geographically varying communication needs of the domestic garden owners. In all study areas, the garden owners' measures taken to control invasive alien species were correlated with their strength of beliefs in having experienced local biodiversity loss. A majority of the garden owners were, moreover, uncertain about the impact of climate change on the invasiveness of alien species. In addition, the garden owners' capacity for identifying invasive alien species was often in need of improvement, in particular with respect to the species Impatiens glandulifera, Reynoutria japonica and Rosa rugosa. The results suggest that the evidence-based guidelines for effective communications we developed, have the potential to help communicators meet the local communication needs of garden owners across Sweden, in relation to the management of invasive alien garden species.

Cost-effectiveness of high-sensitivity faecal immunochemical test and colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer screening can decrease morbidity and mortality. However, there are widespread differences in the implementation of programmes and choice of strategy. The primary objective of this study was to estimate lifelong costs and health outcomes of two of the currently most preferred methods of screening for colorectal cancer: colonoscopy and sensitive faecal immunochemical test (FIT). METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis of colorectal cancer screening in a Swedish population was performed using a decision analysis model, based on the design of the Screening of Swedish Colons (SCREESCO) study, and data from the published literature and registries. Lifelong cost and effects of colonoscopy once, colonoscopy every 10 years, FIT twice, FIT biennially and no screening were estimated using simulations. RESULTS: For 1000 individuals invited to screening, it was estimated that screening once with colonoscopy yielded 49 more quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and a cost saving of €64 800 compared with no screening. Similarly, screening twice with FIT gave 26 more QALYs and a cost saving of €17 600. When the colonoscopic screening was repeated every tenth year, 7 additional QALYs were gained at a cost of €189 400 compared with a single colonoscopy. The additional gain with biennial FIT screening was 25 QALYs at a cost of €154 300 compared with two FITs. CONCLUSION: All screening strategies were cost-effective compared with no screening. Repeated and single screening strategies with colonoscopy were more cost-effective than FIT when lifelong effects and costs were considered. However, other factors such as patient acceptability of the test and availability of human resources also have to be taken into account.

Radiofrequency ablation as initial therapy in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: results on health-related quality of life and symptom burden. The MANTRA-PAF trial.

AIMS: The Medical ANtiarrhythmic Treatment or Radiofrequency Ablation in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (MANTRA-PAF) trial assessed the long-term efficacy of an initial strategy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) vs. antiarrhythmic drug therapy (AAD) as first-line treatment for patients with PAF. In this substudy, we evaluated the effect of these treatment modalities on the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and symptom burden of patients at 12 and 24 months. METHODS AND RESULTS: During the study period, 294 patients were enrolled in the MANTRA-PAF trial and randomized to receive AAD (N = 148) or RFA (N = 146). Two generic questionnaires were used to assess the HRQoL [Short Form-36 (SF-36) and EuroQol-five dimensions (EQ-5D)], and the Arrhythmia-Specific questionnaire in Tachycardia and Arrhythmia (ASTA) was used to evaluate the symptoms appearing during the trial. All comparisons were made on an intention-to-treat basis. Both randomization groups showed significant improvements in assessments with both SF-36 and EQ-5D, at 24 months. Patients randomized to RFA showed significantly greater improvement in four physically related scales of the SF-36. The three most frequently reported symptoms were breathlessness during activity, pronounced tiredness, and worry/anxiety. In both groups, there was a significant reduction in ASTA symptom index and in the severity of seven of the eight symptoms over time. CONCLUSION: Both AAD and RFA as first-line treatment resulted in substantial improvement of HRQoL and symptom burden in patients with PAF. Patients randomized to RFA showed greater improvement in physical scales (SF-36) and the EQ-visual analogue scale. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00133211.

Comparison of chronic widespread pain prevalence with different criteria in two cohorts of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate chronic widespread pain with the 1990 (CWP1990) and 2019 (CWP2019) definitions 6 years after the onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in one patient cohort with tight controls and one conventional cohort, and factors associated with reporting CWP1990 and CWP2019, respectively. METHODS: A cohort of 80 RA patients with monthly visits to the physician the first 6 months was compared to a cohort of 101 patients from the same clinic with conventional follow-up. Both cohorts had early RA (< 13 months). The prevalence of CWP1990 and the more stringent CWP2019 were in a 6-year follow-up investigated with a questionnaire, including a pain mannequin and a fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire. RESULTS: In the tight control cohort, 10% reported CWP2019 after 6 years compared to 23% in the conventional cohort (p = 0.026). There was no difference when using the CWP1990 definition (27% vs 31%, p = 0.546). When adjusted for important baseline data, the odds ratio for having CWP2019 was 2.57 (95% CI 1.02-6.50), in the conventional group compared to the tight control group (p = 0.046). A high level of fear-avoidance behaviour towards physical activity was associated with CWP2019, OR 10.66 (95% CI 1.01-112.14), but not with CWP1990 in the tight control cohort. CONCLUSION: A more stringent definition of CWP identifies patients with a more serious pain condition, which potentially could be prevented by an initial tight control management. Besides tight control, caregivers should pay attention to fear-avoidance behaviour and tailor treatment. KEY POINTS: • CWP2019 is a more stringent definition of chronic widespread pain and identifies patients with a more serious pain condition. • Patients with a serious pain condition could be helped by frequent follow-ups. • This study suggests that a special attention of fear-avoidance behaviour towards physical activity in patients with RA is needed.

Directional limits on persistent gravitational waves using LIGO S5 science data.

The gravitational-wave (GW) sky may include nearby pointlike sources as well as stochastic backgrounds. We perform two directional searches for persistent GWs using data from the LIGO S5 science run: one optimized for pointlike sources and one for arbitrary extended sources. Finding no evidence to support the detection of GWs, we present 90% confidence level (C.L.) upper-limit maps of GW strain power with typical values between 2-20×10(-50) strain(2) Hz(-1) and 5-35×10(-49) strain(2) Hz(-1) sr(-1) for pointlike and extended sources, respectively. The latter result is the first of its kind. We also set 90% C.L. limits on the narrow-band root-mean-square GW strain from interesting targets including Sco X-1, SN 1987A and the Galactic center as low as ≈7×10(-25) in the most sensitive frequency range near 160 Hz.

Plasma markers of inflammation and incidence of hospitalisations for COPD: results from a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between plasma markers of inflammation and the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still unclear. This population-based study explored whether raised levels of five inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins (ISPs) predicted hospital admissions for COPD during 25 years of follow-up. METHODS: Spirometric tests and measurements of five ISPs (fibrinogen, ceruloplasmin, alpha(1)-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, orosomucoid) were performed in 5247 apparently healthy men from the city of Malmö (mean age 46 years). The incidence of hospitalisations for COPD was studied in relation to the number of ISPs in the fourth quartile. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 258 men were admitted to hospital with COPD, 211 of whom were smokers at baseline. The incidence of hospital admissions for COPD was significantly associated with the number of raised ISPs. Adjusted for risk factors, the hazards ratio (95% CI) was 1.00 (reference), 1.28 (0.9 to 1.9), 1.29 (0.8 to 2.0) and 2.30 (1.6 to 3.2), respectively, for men with 0, 1, 2 and >or=3 ISPs in the top quartile (p for trend <0.001). This relationship was consistent in men with high and low lung function at baseline. The relationship with the incidence of hospital admissions for COPD was largely the same for all individual ISPs. CONCLUSION: Raised plasma ISP levels are associated with an increased incidence of COPD requiring hospitalisation.

Distribution of glutamic acid decarboxylase messenger RNA-containing nerve cell populations of the male rat brain.

The distribution of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA was investigated throughout the rat brain by means of in situ hybridization. Hybridization was carried out with a 35S-radiolabeled cRNA probe transcribed from a cDNA from cat occipital cortex and cloned in a SP6-T7 promoter-containing vector. Fixed tissue sections were hybridized with 35S GAD probe (0.6 kb length). Signal was detected by means of film or emulsion autoradiography. The autoradiograms were semiquantitatively evaluated by means of computer-assisted image analysis. The results obtained with this evaluation were correlated with the results of the semiquantitative analysis of GAD immunoreactivity performed by Mugnaini and Oertel. Specific labeling was only observed in neuronal cell bodies, whereas no labeling was found over neuropil, glial and endothelial cells. The highest labeling was found in the bulbus olfactorius (internal plexiform and granular layers) and in the caudal magnocellular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Strong labeling was observed in the Purkinje layer of the cerebellar cortex, the interpeduncular nucleus, the interstitial nucleus of Cajal, the nucleus of Darkschewitsch and the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Intermediate or low levels of GAD mRNA were present in various brain nuclei, where gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing cell bodies had been observed with other techniques. Interestingly, a low level of GAD mRNA was found in the caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens, where the vast majority of nerve cells is known to contain GAD immunoreactivity. Only a poor correlation was found between the present semiquantitative measurements of GAD mRNA content and previous analyses of the number of GAD-immunoreactive cell bodies. The present study demonstrates that there exists a differential regional expression of GAD mRNA. The comparison with cell counts performed by immunocytochemistry suggests that some brain areas, such as caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens, contain a large number of GAD-immunoreactive cell bodies which express a low level of GAD mRNA. The opposite seems to be true for other nuclei, such as the globus pallidus, the zona reticulata of the substantia nigra and the inferior collicle, where few GAD-immunoreactive cell bodies contain high levels of GAD mRNA. In conclusion, the present study gives a low magnification map of GAD mRNA levels in the adult male rat brain. Marked biochemical heterogeneities may be present among GABA neuronal populations based on their expression of GAD mRNA. The comparison between the present in situ hybridization and previous immunocytochemical studies suggests that there may exist at least two populations of GABA neurons in the brain, having high and low levels respectively of both GAD mRNA and GAD enzyme.

Chronic haloperidol affects striatal D2-dopamine receptor reappearance after irreversible receptor blockade.

The time course of recovery of [3H]spiperone binding in the rat striatum after administration of the irreversible antagonist N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) was studied in chronically haloperidol-treated rats (0.5 mg/kg, i.p., twice a day for two weeks). Chronic neuroleptic treatment significantly enhanced the [3H]spiperone Bmax value. EEDQ (6.0 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a similar profound decrease of [3H]spiperone binding site density in both saline- and haloperidol-treated rats. However, the receptor degradation rate constant in the haloperidol-treated animals (k = 0.0051 h-1) and the receptor production rate (r = 1.6 fmol/mg prot/h) were lower than in the saline-treated rats (k = 0.0074 h-1; r = 1.8 fmol/mg prot/h). These results are different from what is found in 6-OH-dopamine lesioned rats. D2-receptor recovery after EEDQ administration is enhanced in chronically (4-5 weeks) denervated striatum (Brain Research, 329 (1985) 225-231) while the degradation rate constant is unchanged. Thus, the present results indicate that chronic haloperidol treatment reduces both the degradation and production rates of striatal D2-receptors.

Using distance transform based algorithms for extracting measures of the fiber network in volume images of paper.

Nowadays volume images are frequently used in many applications. Volume images of paper can be analyzed to increase the understanding of the complexity of the fiber network in paper and its effect on the optical and mechanical properties of paper. We show how curve and surface representations of the fiber, the fiber wall, and the fiber lumen can be computed using distance transform based algorithms. These representations are used for easy computation of wall thickness, degree of collapse, fiber length, slenderness ratio, fiber curl, and torsional resistance for the fibers. Free-fiber segments are identified, again using a distance transform based algorithm. Finally, we show tools for qualitative visual inspection of the fibers. The methods are evaluated and illustrated using both sets of synthetic and of real data. In addition to the analysis of the fiber network in paper, they can be used in many other applications where shape analysis of elongated objects is to be performed.

Mortality risks among heavy-smokers with special reference to women: a long-term follow-up of an urban population.

Increased mortality risks associated with smoking are well established among men. There are very few population-based studies comprising a sufficient number of heavily smoking women, measuring the direct effect of smoking on mortality risks. Between 1974 and 1992, 8,499 women and 13,888 men attended a health screening programme including reporting of smoking habits. Individuals were followed for total mortality until 2005. All-cause, cancer, cardiovascular, lung cancer and respiratory mortality were calculated in smoking categories <10 g per day, 10-19 g per day, and > or =20 g per day with never-smokers as a reference group and with adjustments for co-morbidities, socio-economic and marital status. For respiratory mortality and lung cancer adjustments for FEV(1), socio-economic and marital status were performed. Smoking was associated with a two to almost threefold increased mortality risk among women and men. The relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval, (CI) for women who smoked 10-19 g per day was 2.44 (2.07-2.87), and for those who smoked 20 g per day or more the RR (95% CI) was 2.42 (2.00-2.92). Smoking was a strong risk factor for cardiovascular mortality among women, the RR (95% CI) for women who smoked 10-19 g per day was 4.52 (3.07-6.64). Ex-smoking women showed increased risks of all-cause mortality; RR (95% CI) 1.26 (1.04-1.52) cancer (excluding lung cancer); RR (95% CI) 1.42 (1.07-1.88) and lung cancer RR (95% CI) 2.71 (1.02-7.23) mortality. However, the cardiovascular; RR (95% CI) 1.18 (0.69-2.00) and respiratory; RR (95% CI) 0.79 (0.16-3.84) mortality risks were not statistically significant. This study confirms that as for men, middle-aged heavily smoking women have a two to threefold increased mortality risk. Adjustments for co-morbidity, socio-economic and marital status did not change these results.

Minimizing scanning electron microscope artefacts by filter design.

A new type of non-linear filter for digital images has been developed. By using distance transforms we estimate the average point spread function for a set of fibre cross-sectional images. Then a fast filter technique, based on lookup tables for distance layers, attenuates the uneven background response from the scanning electron microscope. Compared to the convolution-based techniques that we tried, this approach caused less blurring effects on our fibre images and also made the background pixels more homogeneous. The only assumption we make is that we can roughly segment the background pixels by using a pixel-wise classifier. Although the assumption that the uneven background response can be described by a circular point spread function is only approximately true in the case discussed here, this method greatly attenuates the effect and provides a fast and general filtering method that can also be of use for other applications.

Mental development in late infancy after prenatal exposure to benzodiazepines--a prospective study.

Seventeen infants born to mothers who used benzodiazepines (BZD) throughout pregnancy were followed prospectively and compared with 29 infants born to mothers who had not used psychoactive substances. On the Griffiths' Developmental Scale, the BZD-exposed infants demonstrated consistently lower mean GQs and DQs for all subscales at 5, 10 and 18 months of age. The differences in GQ reached statistical significance at 10 and 18 months. The DQs differed significantly for all subscales at 10 months and for the personal-social behaviour and hearing and speech subscales at 18 months of age. We suggest that prenatal exposure to BZD may cause a general delay in mental development up to 18 months of age.

The mechanism of cAMP-induced glucocorticoid receptor expression. Correlation to cellular glucocorticoid response.

The mechanism of regulation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression by cAMP was investigated in rat hepatoma cells (HTC). Incubation of HTC cells with the cAMP-inducing agent, forskolin, caused a significant increase in the levels of both [3H]dexamethasone binding capacity and GR mRNA by about 2- to 2.4-fold within 4 h. Incubation of HTC cells with the cAMP analogue, 8-bromo-cAMP, also increased the GR mRNA level to a similar degree in a concentration-dependent manner. The increase in GR mRNA did not require ongoing translation or transcription. Determination of GR mRNA stability in 8-bromo-cAMP-induced cells showed that the message had a half-life of approximately 10 h, which is about 2.5 times longer than the GR mRNA half-life in nontreated cells (t1/2 = 4 h). These results indicate that the increased steady state level of GR mRNA induced by cAMP analogue is, at least in part, caused by increased GR mRNA stability. In both forskolin-pretreated and nontreated HTC cells, dexamethasone caused an approximately 70% down-regulation of GR protein levels. However, since forskolin induced the GR level 2- to 2.4-fold, the relative amount of GR protein remaining in cells treated with both forskolin and dexamethasone was about 2- to 2.4-fold higher compared to cells treated with dexamethasone alone. This increased GR level correlated well with the increase in inducibility of two glucocorticoid regulated genes, the endogenous tyrosine aminotransferase and the stably integrated mouse mammary tumor virus. These data suggest that relatively small changes in GR levels are reflected in parallel changes in cellular response to glucocorticoid hormones. This also implicates a limiting nature of the GR protein in determining the biological response.

Localization of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA in the male rat brain by in situ hybridization.

The localization and distribution of mRNA encoding the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) was investigated in tissue sections of the adult male rat brain by in situ hybridization and RNA blot analysis. GR mRNA levels were measured by quantitative autoradiography with 35S- and 32P-labeled RNA probes, respectively. Strong labeling was observed within the pyramidal nerve cells of the CA1 and CA2 areas of the hippocampal formation, in the granular cells of the dentate gyrus, in the parvocellular nerve cells of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, and in the cells of the arcuate nucleus, especially the parvocellular part. Moderate labeling of a large number of nerve cells was observed within layers II, III, and VI of the neocortex and in many thalamic nuclei, especially the anterior and ventral nuclear groups as well as several midline nuclei. Within the cerebellar cortex, strong labeling was observed all over the granular layer. In the lower brainstem, strong labeling was found within the entire locus coeruleus and within the mesencephalic raphe nuclei rich in noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine cell bodies, respectively. A close correlation was found between the distribution of GR mRNA and the distribution of previously described GR immunoreactivity. These studies open the possibility of obtaining additional information on in vivo regulation of GR synthesis and how the brain may alter its sensitivity to circulating glucocorticoids.

Children with septo-optic dysplasia - how to improve and sharpen the diagnosis.

The data in this article are based on investigations performed in 25 children with suspected septo-optic dysplasia (SOD). There are many signs and methods that help in the diagnosis of SOD. In particular, the ocular fundus, abnormalities of the hypothalamo-pituitary axis and other midline brain structures should be described. In order to achieve a more holistic and functional diagnosis, the degree of neurological, neuropsychiatric and psychological involvement should also be stated. It has been suggested that SOD is associated with autosomal recessive inheritance, and it can be speculated that it is the result of genetic and environmental influences early in gestation. An early diagnosis can favourably influence the outcome of the affected child.

Pre- and postsynaptic features of the central angiotensin systems. Indications for a role of angiotensin peptides in volume transmission and for interactions with central monoamine neurons.

The transmitter receptor matches and mismatches in the angiotensin (ANG) immunoreactive (IR) neuronal systems of the rat CNS have been characterized in various regions by means of ANG II immunocytochemistry and 125I-angiotensin II receptor autoradiography. By means of in situ hybridization the distribution of angiotensinogen mRNA has been mapped out and related to the distribution of ANG IR. In some areas, high densities of ANG IR nerve terminals and ANG II receptors (e.g. paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, locus coeruleus and nucleus tractus solitarius) or high densities of ANG II receptors alone (e.g. medial geniculate body, subthalamic nucleus and superficial layer of the superior collicle) were often associated with high levels of angiotensinogen mRNA, suggesting the existence of an extracellular formation of ANG II, mediating biological responses. These results underline a role of ANG peptides in volume transmission in addition to transmitter function. Other areas, such as nuc. n. hypoglossi, practically lacking ANG IR terminals, pericarya and receptors, also contained high levels of angiotensinogen mRNA, suggesting a different role of angiotensinogen in these areas. Evidence for presynaptic (turnover changes) and post-synaptic (receptor-receptor crosstalk) interactions with CA neuronal systems has been obtained especially in cardiovascular centers. Thus, ANG II reduces in a concentration related way the affinity of 3H-paraminoclonidine binding sites in the dorsomedial medulla without influencing the Bmax value. These results indicate the existence of intramembrane interactions between ANG II and alpha 2 adrenergic receptors. Finally paraventricular but not perifornical ANG immunoreactive nerve cells costore nuclear glucocorticoid receptor IR, suggesting that some ANG neurons may be directly regulated by glucocorticoids.