Evening light environments can be designed to consolidate and increase the duration of REM-sleep.

Evening exposure to short-wavelength light has disruptive effects on circadian rhythms and sleep. These effects can be mitigated by blocking short-wavelength (blue) frequencies, which has led to the development of evening blue-depleted light environments (BDLEs). We have previously reported that residing 5 days in an evening BDLE, compared with residing in a normal indoor light environment of similar photopic lux, advances circadian rhythms and increases the duration of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in a randomized cross-over trial with twelve healthy participants. The current study extends these findings by testing whether residing in the evening BDLE affects the consolidation and microstructure of REM sleep in the same sample. Evening BDLE significantly reduces the fragmentation of REM sleep (p = 0.0003), and REM sleep microarousals in (p = 0.0493) without significantly changing REM density or the latency to first REM sleep episode. Moreover, the increased accumulation of REM sleep is not at the expense of NREM stage 3 sleep. BDLE further has a unique effect on REM sleep fragmentation (p = 0.0479) over and above that of circadian rhythms phase-shift, indicating a non-circadian effect of BDLE. If these effects can be replicated in clinical populations, this may have a therapeutic potential in disorders characterized by fragmented REM sleep.

Vascular risk factor control and adherence to secondary preventive medication after ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Studies regarding adequacy of secondary stroke prevention are limited. We report medication adherence, risk factor control and factors influencing vascular risk profile following ischaemic stroke. METHODS: A total of 664 home-dwelling participants in the Norwegian Cognitive Impairment After Stroke study, a multicenter observational study, were evaluated 3 and 18 months poststroke. We assessed medication adherence by self-reporting (4-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale) and medication persistence (defined as continuation of medication(s) prescribed at discharge), achievement of guideline-defined targets of blood pressure (BP) (<140/90 mmHg), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (<2.0 mmol L-1 ) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (≤53 mmol mol-1 ) and determinants of risk factor control. RESULTS: At discharge, 97% were prescribed antithrombotics, 88% lipid-lowering drugs, 68% antihypertensives and 12% antidiabetic drugs. Persistence of users declined to 99%, 88%, 93% and 95%, respectively, at 18 months. After 3 and 18 months, 80% and 73% reported high adherence. After 3 and 18 months, 40.7% and 47.0% gained BP control, 48.4% and 44.6% achieved LDL-C control, and 69.2% and 69.5% of diabetic patients achieved HbA1c control. Advanced age was associated with increased LDL-C control (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06) and reduced BP control (OR 0.98, 0.96 to 0.99). Women had poorer LDL-C control (OR 0.60, 0.37 to 0.98). Polypharmacy was associated with increased LDL-C control (OR 1.29, 1.18 to 1.41) and reduced HbA1c control (OR 0.76, 0.60 to 0.98). CONCLUSION: Risk factor control is suboptimal despite high medication persistence and adherence. Improved understanding of this complex clinical setting is needed for optimization of secondary preventive strategies.

A 12-month follow-up of a transdiagnostic indicated prevention of internalizing symptoms in school-aged children: the results from the EMOTION study.

BACKGROUND: Anxious and depressive symptoms in youth are highly prevalent, are often comorbid and have a high rate of relapse. Preventive interventions are promising, but follow-up results are lacking. The transdiagnostic EMOTION program is an indicated preventive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention targeting children aged 8-12 years. METHODS: The present study investigates the 12 months follow-up effects of the EMOTION intervention in a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 795 children that included both child self-reports and parental reports. RESULTS: Mixed model analyses showed a larger decrease of symptoms in the intervention group than in the control group for child self-reported anxious symptoms (The Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) difference 4.56, CI 1.83 to 7.29, p = .001). Parental reports for both anxious (MASC difference 2.50, CI .26 to 4.74, p = .029) and depressive (The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire-short form (SMFQ) difference 1.55, CI .83 to 2.26, p ≤ .001) symptoms in children also showed a reduction. No statistically significant difference was found for child self-reported depressive symptoms (SMFQ difference .69, CI - .22 to 1.60, p = .139). CONCLUSION: The transdiagnostic EMOTION program has shown the potential for long-term reductions in symptoms of both anxiety and depression in school-aged children. However, results regarding depressive symptoms must be considered preliminary as only parental report indicated effect.Trial registration The regional ethics committee (REC) of Norway approved the study. Registration number: 2013/1909; Project title: Coping Kids: a randomized controlled study of a new indicated preventive intervention for children with symptoms of anxiety and depression. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier; NCT02340637.

Metabolic risk factors in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: The effect of comedication with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and antipsychotics.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this observational study was to investigate the relationship between metabolic factors and use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) combined with olanzapine, quetiapine or risperidone. METHODS: Data from the Norwegian Thematically Organized Psychosis study, a cross-sectional study on 1301 patients with schizophrenia (n=868) or bipolar disorder (n=433), were analyzed. As exposure variables in the linear regression model were included the dose or serum concentration of SSRIs (n=280) and of olanzapine (n=398), quetiapine (n=234) or risperidone (n=128). The main outcome variables were levels of total cholesterol, low and high density lipoprotein (LDL and HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. RESULTS: One defined daily dose (DDD) per day of an SSRI in addition to olanzapine was associated with an increase in total cholesterol of 0.16 (CI 0.01 to 0.32) mmol/L (P=0.042) and an increase in LDL-cholesterol of 0.17 (CI 0.02 to 0.31) mmol/L (P=0.022). An SSRI serum concentration in the middle of the reference interval in addition to quetiapine was associated with an increase in total cholesterol of 0.39 (CI 0.10 to 0.68) mmol/L (P=0.011) and an increase in LDL-cholesterol of 0.29 (0.02 to 0.56) mmol/L (P=0.037). There were no such effects when combined with risperidone. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate only minor deteriorations of metabolic variables associated with treatment with an SSRI in addition to olanzapine and quetiapine, and none when combined with risperidone. These results suggest that SSRIs can be used in combination with antipsychotics, and that the possible increase in cardiovascular risk is negligible.

Clinical diagnostic accuracy of acute colonic diverticulitis in patients admitted with acute abdominal pain, a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

PURPOSE: The study investigated the capability of clinical findings, temperature, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) count to discern patients with acute colonic diverticulitis from all other patients admitted with acute abdominal pain. METHODS: The probability of acute diverticulitis was assessed by the examining doctor, using a scale from 0 (zero probability) to 10 (100 % probability). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the clinical diagnostic accuracy of acute colonic diverticulitis in patients admitted with acute abdominal pain. RESULTS: Of 833 patients admitted with acute abdominal pain, 95 had acute colonic diverticulitis. ROC curve analysis gave an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.95 (CI 0.92 to 0.97) for ages <65 years, AUC = 0.86 (CI 0.78 to 0.93) in older patients. Separate analysis showed an AUC = 0.83 (CI 0.80 to 0.86) of CRP alone. White blood cell count and temperature were almost useless to discriminate acute colonic diverticulitis from other types of acute abdominal pain, AUC = 0.59 (CI 0.53 to 0.65) for white blood cell count and AUC = 0.57 (0.50 to 0.63) for temperature, respectively. CONCLUSION: This prospective study demonstrates that standard clinical evaluation by non-specialist doctors based on history, physical examination, and initial blood tests on admission provides a high degree of diagnostic precision in patients with acute colonic diverticulitis.

Chronic postsurgical pain in patients 5 years after cardiac surgery: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a common complication after many surgical procedures, including cardiac surgery. The prevalence of CPSP after cardiac surgery ranges from 9.5% to 56%. Most studies on CPSP after cardiac surgery are retrospective and long-term prospective studies are scarce. The aim of this study was to follow CPSP and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) prospectively in a cohort of patients, emphasizing the prevalence from 12 months to 5 years. METHODS: A total of 534 patients (23% ≥75 years, 67% men) were consecutively included before surgery. Study-specific questionnaires and the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) were used to measure CPSP at baseline, 12 months and 5-year follow-up. Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to measure HRQOL. RESULTS: Among 458 patients who were alive after 5 years, 82% responded (n = 373). The majority, 89.8% (335/373), did not report CPSP, neither 12 months nor 5 years after surgery. Among the 38 patients who reported CPSP after 12 months, 24 (63%) patients did not report CPSP after 5 years. The overall prevalence of CPSP after 5 years was 3.8% (14/373). Patients reporting CPSP and resolved CPSP had lower scores on HRQOL and more pain preoperatively than patients who did not report CPSP. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CPSP was lower in this study than previously reported. Among the patients reporting CPSP at 12 months, 63% did not report CPSP after 5 years. Hence, the observed decline in CPSP is in line with studies evaluating CPSP in noncardiac surgery. SIGNIFICANCE: The prevalence of chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) at 5 years after surgery of 3.8% is lower than previously reported. The majority of patients reporting CPSP after 12 months did not report CPSP after 5 years.

The long-term effects of being bullied or a bully in adolescence on externalizing and internalizing mental health problems in adulthood.

BACKGROUND: The aim is to examine associations between bullying involvement in adolescence and mental health problems in adulthood. METHODS: Information on bullying-involvement (being bullied, bully-victim, aggressive toward others) and non-involved was collected from 2464 adolescents in Mid-Norway at mean age 13.7 and again at mean age 14.9. Information about mental health problems and psychosocial functioning was collected about 12 years later at mean age 27.2 (n = 1266). RESULTS: All groups involved in bullying in young adolescence had adverse mental health outcomes in adulthood compared to non-involved. Those being bullied were affected especially regarding increased total sum of depressive symptoms and high levels of total, internalizing and critical symptoms, increased risk of having received help for mental health problems, and reduced functioning because of a psychiatric problem in adulthood. While those being aggressive toward others showed high levels of total and internalizing symptoms. Both those being bullied and bully-victims showed an increased risk of high levels of critical symptoms. Lastly, all groups involved in bullying on adolescence had increased risk of psychiatric hospitalization because of mental health problems. CONCLUSION: Involvement in bullying in adolescence is associated with later mental health problems, possibly hindering development into independent adulthood.

The consistency of experts' evaluation of obstetric claims for compensation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the consistency of experts' evaluation of different types of obstetric claims for compensation. DESIGN: Inter-rater reliability study of obstetric claims for compensation. SETTING: Medical experts' evaluation in The Norwegian System of Compensation to Patients, a no-blame system. SAMPLE: The 15 most frequently used medical experts were asked to evaluate 12 obstetric claims applied for compensation. METHODS: Inter-rater agreement was assessed by absolute agreement, Fleiss' kappa statistic and Gwet's AC1. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Consistency in the evaluation of negligence (carelessness without intention to harm) and causality (relation between care and injury) between negligence and patient injury. RESULTS: The experts demonstrated moderate consistency in their evaluation of negligence (Fleiss' kappa = 0.53/AC1 = 0.54) and causality (Fleiss' kappa = 0.41/AC1 = 0.54). There was a higher level of agreement in clinical scenarios with well-documented diagnostic criteria and guidelines, including shoulder dystocia and asphyxia with low Apgar score and metabolic acidosis. CONCLUSION: We found a moderate level of agreement in experts' evaluation of negligence and causality between the injury and provided health care, the two most important questions to be answered in obstetric claims for compensation.

Prior statin use and 90-day mortality in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bloodstream infection: a prospective observational study.

In several studies on patients with bloodstream infection (BSI), prior use of statins has been associated with improved survival. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria alert the innate immune system in different ways. We, therefore, studied whether the relation between prior statin use and 90-day total mortality differed between Gram-positive and Gram-negative BSI. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of 1,408 adults with BSI admitted to Levanger Hospital between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2011. Data on the use of statins and other medications at admission, comorbidities, functional status, treatment, and outcome were obtained from the patients' hospital records. The relation of statin use with 90-day mortality differed between Gram-negative and Gram-positive BSI (p-value for interaction 0.01). Among patients with Gram-negative BSI, statin users had significantly lower 90-day total mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.42, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.23-0.75, p = 0.003]. The association remained essentially unchanged after adjusting for the effect of sex, age, functional status before the infection, and underlying diseases that were considered confounders (adjusted OR 0.38, 95 % CI 0.20-0.72, p = 0.003). A similar analysis of patients with Gram-positive BSI showed no association of statin use with mortality (adjusted OR 1.22, 95 % CI 0.69-2.17, p = 0.49). The present study suggests that prior statin use is associated with a lower 90-day total mortality in Gram-negative BSI, but not in Gram-positive BSI.

Maternal and paternal psychosocial risk factors for clinical depression in a Norwegian community sample of adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Parental characteristics can increase the risk of the development of adolescent depression. In this study, we focus on the parental factors of parents in a non-intact relationship, dissatisfaction with personal economy, physical illness or disability, and internalizing and externalizing problems. The aim is to examine which of these parental risk factors, separately for mothers and fathers, are associated with clinical depression in adolescents in a community sample. METHODS: In the Youth and Mental Health study, 345 adolescents (mean age ± standard deviation 15.0 ± 0.6 years, range 13.8-16.6 years; 72.5% girls) and their parents (79% at least one parent) completed questionnaires and the diagnostic interview Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). Adolescents were classified into current major depressive disorder or dysthymia (n = 46), depression not otherwise specified (n = 48), or no depression (n = 251). The parental risk factors were based on interview and the Adult Self-Report. Risk factors associated with mothers (n = 267) and fathers (n = 167) were separately analyzed using ordinal logistic regression with current depression category as the dependent variable. All analyses were adjusted for youth sex and age. RESULTS: Mothers' economical dissatisfaction, physical illness/disability, internalizing problems and externalizing problems were associated with adolescent current depression (P ≤ 0.02). Adjusting for all other factors, only mothers' internalizing problems (P < 0.001) remained significantly associated with adolescent depression. Fathers' risk factors were not associated with adolescent depression. CONCLUSION: Characteristics of mothers are associated with adolescent current depression. Mothers' internalizing problems is independently strongly associated with increased risk of current adolescent depression. Clinicians should assess mothers' mental health when treating depressed adolescents.

Longitudinal course of diagnosed depression from ages 15 to 20 in a community sample: patterns and parental risk factors.

The primary aim was to examine the associations of hypothesized maternal and paternal risk factors with course of depression diagnosis in a community sample from ages 15-20. In addition, we describe longitudinal stability and change in depression diagnosis over this period. In the Youth and Mental Health study 242 adolescents completed questionnaires and the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime interview at ages 15 and 20, and risk factors were measured by parent report including the Adult Self Report. Both groups who remained depressed and who recovered were more likely to have mothers with internalizing problems. Paternal internalizing problems was also significantly associated with course of depression. These findings suggest treatment of depression in adolescents and young adults may benefit from consideration of the parents' internalizing symptoms.

The association of nutritional assessment criteria with health-related quality of life in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.

Health-related quality of life (QoL) is a goal in nutritional oncology but the association between nutritional status and QoL is rarely explored. The aim of the study was to investigate the association of nutritional assessment criteria with QoL in 50 patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. A second aim was to investigate changes in body weight and QoL during a 3-month follow-up. Muscle mass, nutritional risk, malnutrition and cachexia according to three different criteria were assessed, as well as health-related QoL. At inclusion, 36 patients experienced weight loss, 10 patients sarcopenia, 25 were at nutritional risk, 16 were malnourished and 11, 14 and 31 patients had cachexia according to different criteria. All nutritional assessment criteria discriminated between groups of patients with worse or better QoL to varying degrees. Malnutrition and cachexia defined by the European Palliative Care Research Collaborative and adjusted for recent gain or stabilisation of body weight discriminated on most QoL scores. Weight loss at follow-up was associated with a decrease in several QoL scores. Recognition of weight loss as well as diagnosing malnutrition and cachexia should be the first steps in an interventional pathway to enhance nutritional status and QoL in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.

Comparison of carbamazepine rash in multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.

OBJECTIVES: Studies on the comorbidity of multiple sclerosis (MS) and allergic disorders have shown conflicting results. Carbamazepine (CBZ) is widely used in MS to control pain. We have compared the incidence of rash from CBZ use in MS and epilepsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive adult patients with MS and epilepsy were studied retrospectively. A detailed survey of medical records concerning CBZ treatment was performed. RESULTS: A total of 495 patients with epilepsy and 442 patients with MS were included. Sixty-five per cent of patients with epilepsy and 20% of patients with MS had used CBZ. In CBZ-exposed patients, rash occurred in 15/89 (17%) in MS and in 43/323 (13%) in epilepsy, a difference which was not significant. Women below 50 years experienced more skin reactions than older women and men. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for rash in the MS vs epilepsy group was 1.32 (CI 0.70-2.51, P = 0.40). Adjusting groups for gender and age reduced the OR to 1.11 (CI 0.56-2.19, P = 0.76). CONCLUSION: Compared with epilepsy, which is only rarely caused by immunological mechanisms, the autoimmune disorder MS was not associated with a different occurrence of CBZ skin reactions. The trend towards an increased occurrence of rashes in MS can partly be explained by a higher predisposition to CBZ rash in women of fertile age.

Colon cancer incidence, presentation, treatment and outcomes over 25 years.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the incidence, presentation, treatment and outcome of colon cancer in a complete cohort of patients treated at a single institution over a 25-year period. METHOD: All 869 patients at Levanger Hospital, Norway with colon cancer during 1980-2004 were included in the study. RESULTS: The incidence of colon cancer increased by 2.1% per year. During the later years, patients presented with less advanced stages, and fewer patients had emergency presentation with obstruction. The rate of operations performed by a colorectal specialist attending increased from 56 to 98%. Postoperative mortality after resection with curative intent decreased from 6.3 to 3.2%, and the presence of a colorectal specialist during the operation was an independent factor that reduced the risk of postoperative death. The local recurrence rate after curative surgery was 10.9% (19 of 174) in 1980-1989, 5.9% (14 of 239) in 1990-1999 and 0.6% (1 of 154) in 2000-2004 (P < 0.001). The 5-year relative survival after resection with curative intent was 71, 81 and 85% in the three periods 1980-1989, 1990-1999 and 2000-2004, respectively. CONCLUSION: The outcome of colon cancer improved from 1980 to 2004. Patients presented at earlier stages, and fewer had emergency presentation. The local recurrence and postoperative mortality rates were reduced, and relative survival improved.

Cold intolerance after flexor tendon injury. Disposing factors and long term prognosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: cold intolerance after hand injuries is often debilitating. We wished to determine what factors make it more likely to occur and whether it improves or worsens with time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: we retrospectively studied 103 patients who had sustained a simple cut leading to a flexor tendon injury in the finger between 3 months and 20 years earlier. A total of 48 had also injured a digital nerve. At review patients indicated on a VAS scale their dis-comfort during the first winter after injury and the last winter before review and also gave a VAS evaluation of pain in the hand after keeping it in a bath of water at 1-4 degrees centigrade for 60 seconds. RESULTS: cold sensitivity during the first winter after injury was reported by 66% patients. Its development was unrelated to the age at injury. The proportions of smokers, injury of more than one finger, and re-operation or with postoperative complications were significantly higher among patients with cold sensitivity. At review 49% indicated that they had improved, 41% that cold sensitivity was unchanged and 10% that they were worse. CONCLUSIONS: standardized immersion in cold water showed that on average cold sensitivity was slightly worse with time.

Chronic pain after cardiac surgery: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a complication of several surgical procedures. The prevalence of chronic pain reported after cardiac surgery varies from 18% to 61%. However, most studies are retrospective, do not use validated instruments for pain measurement or include only pain at the sternum site. The aim of the present study was to assess chronic pain and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after cardiac surgery. METHODS: In a prospective, population-based study, we included 534 patients (413 males) and assessed chronic pain and HRQOL before, 6 months after, and 12 months after cardiac surgery. Pain was measured by the Brief Pain Inventory, while HRQOL was measured by the Short-Form 36 (SF-36). RESULTS: Five hundred and twenty-one patients were alive 12 months after surgery; 462 (89%) and 465 (89%) responded after 6 and 12 months, respectively. Chronic pain was reported by 11% of the patients at both measurements. Younger age was associated with chronic pain [odds ratio 0.7 (95% confidence interval: 0.5-0.9)] at 12 months. Patients with chronic pain reported lower scores on seven of eight SF-36 subscales. DISCUSSION: In conclusion, we observed a lower prevalence of chronic pain after cardiac surgery than in previous studies. Still, more than one out of 10 patients reported chronic pain after cardiac surgery. Chronic pain appears to affect HRQOL. Thus, given the large number of patients subjected to cardiac surgery, this study confirms that chronic pain after cardiac surgery is an important health care issue.

DynaCT during EVAR--a comparison with multidetector CT.

OBJECTIVES: We have explored the usefulness of an on-table, cross-sectional radiological imaging (DynaCT) in endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). DynaCT images were compared to images from a regular multidetector (16 slice) CT. In the comparison, we tested the accordance of firstly 5 relevant clinical measurements and secondly the visibility of 9 anatomical areas in the two different types of images. This imaging was carried out in addition to the usual angiographic imaging. DESIGN, MATERIAL AND METHOD: 20 patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were prospectively enrolled in the study. We compared Images from DynaCT with two different doses of contrast medium to MDCT-images in two different ways. Firstly relevant arterial diameters and lengths and secondly, 9 anatomical areas were evaluated regarding visibility which was scored on a 4-point scale. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the measured arterial diameters and lengths. MDCT had a significantly higher visibility score than both DynaCT investigations. However, with the highest contrast medium dose we found acceptable diagnostic quality in 78-94% of the cases for 8 of the 9 investigated anatomical areas. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that on-table DynaCT are of sufficient quality to give relevant information of arterial measurements, needed in endovascular repair of infrarenal aortic aneurysms.

Short- and long-term outcome of constraint-induced movement therapy after stroke: a randomized controlled feasibility trial.

OBJECTIVE: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a method to improve motor function in the upper extremity following stroke. The aim of this trial was to determine the effect and feasibility of CIMT compared with traditional rehabilitation in short and long term. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: An inpatient rehabilitation clinic. SUBJECTS: Thirty patients with unilateral hand impairment after stroke. INTERVENTION: Six hours arm therapy for 10 consecutive weekdays, while using a restraining mitten on the unaffected hand. MAIN MEASURES: The patients were assessed at baseline, post-treatment and at six-month follow-up using the Wolf Motor Function Test as primary outcome measure and the Motor Activity Log, Functional Independence Measure and Stroke Impact Scale as secondary measurements. RESULTS: The CIMT group (n=18) showed a statistically significant shorter performance time (4.76 seconds versus 7.61 seconds, P= 0.030) and greater functional ability (3.85 versus 3.47, P= 0.037) than the control group (n=12) on the Wolf Motor Function Test at post-treatment assessment. There was a non-significant trend toward greater amount of use (2.47 versus 1.97, P= 0.097) and better quality of movement (2.45 versus 2.12, P=0.105) in the CIMT group according to the Motor Activity Log. No such differences were seen on Functional Independence Measure at the same time. At six-month follow-up the CIMT group maintained their improvement, but as the control group improved even more, there were no significant differences between the groups on any measurements. CONCLUSIONS: CIMT seems to be an effective and feasible method to improve motor function in the short term, but no long-term effect was found.

Effects of marine n-3 fatty acid supplementation on lipoprotein subclasses measured by nuclear magnetic resonance in subjects with type II diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To measure effects of fish oil supplements on lipoprotein subclasses by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in subjects with type II diabetes and relate them to insulin sensitivity. DESIGN: Two-armed, parallel, placebo-controlled, randomized. SUBJECTS: Normotriglyceridemic subjects with type II diabetes without insulin treatment were given either fish oil (n=12, median intake 5.9 g/day total n-3 fatty acids (FA) (1.8 g 20:5n-3, 3.0 g 22:6n-3)) or corn oil (n=14, 8.5 g/day 18:2n-6 FA). METHODS: Size and concentration of lipoproteins subclasses were measured by NMR, insulin sensitivity by hyperinsulinemic, isoglycemic clamps. RESULTS: After 9 weeks, there were differences between those treated with fish and corn oil with respect to very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) size (median -15 vs +0.6%, P=0.001), particle concentrations of large VLDL (-99 vs -4.1%, P=0.041) and small high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (-12 vs +10%, P=0.051). Compared with corn oil fish oil tended to increase HDL size and small low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration (P=0.063 and 0.068, respectively, for differences between groups). There was no effect on oxidized LDL. Insulin sensitivity (glucose utilization) decreased in the fish oil group compared with the corn oil group (P=0.049). The decrease in insulin sensitivity did not correlate with the effects on lipoprotein subclasses. CONCLUSIONS: A high intake of n-3 FA exerts effects on several lipoprotein subclasses without obvious influence from changes in insulin sensitivity.

The relationship between venous gas bubbles and adverse effects of decompression after air dives.

The presence of gas bubbles in the vascular system is often considered a sign of decompression stress and several studies in the existing literature have addressed the relationship between the amount of bubbles detected by ultrasound Doppler systems and the incidence of decompression sickness. The use of ultrasound imaging has some important advantages to Doppler systems, and here we have looked at the relationship between the amount of intravascular gas bubbles detected by ultrasound echocardiography and the incidence of signs and symptoms of decompression stress after 203 air dives. The results show that venous gas bubbles detected by ultrasound imaging is a highly sensitive, although not specific, predictor of such adverse effects of decompression. Our results agree with the published concordance between Doppler detected bubbles and decompression sickness. We conclude that bubble detection by ultrasonic scanning of the heart can be used as a tool to assess the safety of decompression procedures for air dives.