Diverging trends for onset of acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke and mortality in young males: role of changes in obesity and fitness.

BACKGROUND: As opposed to the decreasing overall rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence and overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, heart failure (HF) and stroke incidence are increasing in young people, potentially due to rising rates of obesity and reduced cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). OBJECTIVES: We investigated trends in early major CVD outcomes in a large cohort of young men. METHODS: Successive cohorts of Swedish military conscripts from 1971 to 1995 (N = 1,258,432; mean age, 18.3 years) were followed, using data from the National Inpatient and Cause of Death registries. Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyse changes in 21-year CVD event rates. RESULTS: 21-year CVD and all-cause mortality and incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) decreased progressively. Compared with the cohort conscripted in 1971-1975 (reference), the hazard ratios (HRs) for the last 1991-1995 cohort were 0.50 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42-0.59] for CVD mortality; 0.57 (95% CI 0.54-0.60) for all-cause mortality; and 0.63 (95% CI 0.53-0.75) for AMI. In contrast, the incidence of ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage and HF increased with HRs of 1.43 (95% CI 1.17-1.75), 1.30 (95% CI 1.01-1.68) and 1.84 (95% CI 1.47-2.30), respectively. During the period, rates of obesity increased from 1.04% to 2.61%, whilst CRF scores decreased slightly. Adjustment for these factors influenced these secular trends only moderately. CONCLUSION: Secular trends of young-onset CVD events demonstrated a marked shift from AMI and CVD mortality to HF and stroke incidence. Trends were significantly, though moderately, influenced by changing baseline BMI and CRF.

Obesity in adolescent men increases the risk of venous thromboembolism in adult life.

BACKGROUND: As the population of obese and severely obese young adults grows, it is becoming increasingly important to recognize the long-term risks associated with adolescent obesity. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the association between body mass index (BMI) in young men at enlistment for military service and later risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). METHODS: Nationwide register-based prospective cohort study of men enlisting 1969 to 2005, followed through the Swedish National Patient and Cause of Death registries. We identified 1 639 838 men (mean age, 18.3 years) free of prior venous thromboembolism, of whom 29 342 were obese (BMI 30 to <35 kg m-2 ) and 7236 severely obese (BMI ≥ 35 kg m-2 ). The participants were followed until a first registered diagnosis of VTE. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 28 years (interquartile interval, 20 to 36 years), 11 395 cases of deep vein thrombosis and 7270 cases of pulmonary embolism were recorded. Compared with men with a BMI of 18.5 to <20 kg m-2 , men with higher BMI in young adulthood showed an incrementally increasing risk of VTE that was moderately but significantly increased already at normal BMI levels. Adolescent obese men with a BMI of 30 to 35 kg m-2 had an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.93 (95% confidence interval, 2.65 to 3.24) for VTE. Severely obese men with a BMI of ≥35 kg m-2 had a hazard ratio of 4.95 (95% confidence interval, 4.16 to 5.90). CONCLUSIONS: Men who were obese or severely obese in young adulthood had a marked increase in risk of VTE.

The lack of association between herpes simplex virus 1 or Toxoplasma gondii infection and cognitive decline in the general population: An 11-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has been suggested to be one, possibly treatable, cause of cognitive decline and dementia. The purpose of the present article was to investigate whether the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) or Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infections are related to cognitive decline or dementia. METHOD: The Health 2000 survey, conducted 2000-2001, is a population-representative sample of people over 30 years old that involved 7112 participants. The sample was followed up in the year 2011, in the Health 2011 study. At both time points, cognitive performance was assessed with two tests from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) assessing verbal fluency and verbal learning. In addition, the abbreviated Mini-Mental State Examination was administered to people aged over 55. In addition, tests assessing reaction and movement time were performed at baseline. Dementia diagnoses from nationwide health care registers were followed up until the end of year 2013. The presence of HSV-1 and T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) was determined by solid-phase immunoassay at baseline. RESULTS: HSV-1 or T. gondii seropositivity, or IgG antibody levels, were not associated with cognitive decline when investigated as infection × time interactions. In addition, the infections were not associated with the risk of dementia. CONCLUSIONS: In a large sample of participants that is representative of the whole country and with a long follow-up, the results suggest that latent HSV-1 or T. gondii infections are not related to either decline in cognitive performance or dementia risk.

The role of chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) as intermediate hosts in the transmission of Hymenolepis microps (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) from the willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus (Aves: Tetraonidae).

The cestode Hymenolepis microps is an intestinal parasite of tetraonid birds, including the willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus). This parasite is able to maintain a high prevalence and intensity throughout the year, even in a subarctic environment in bird populations with relatively low host densities, indicating effective transmission routes. Willow ptarmigan consume mainly vegetal material and active consumption of invertebrates is confined to the first two or three weeks of life. Ptarmigan are infected by different species of ectoparasites, of which two species of feather lice, Lagopoecus affinis and Goniodes lagopi, are the most abundant. In this study, we explored the hypothesis that feather lice may be suitable intermediate hosts for H. microps. We applied histological techniques and light microscopy to investigate lice for the presence of larval cestode stages (cysticercoids). We found 12 cysticercoid-like structures inside chewing lice collected on L. lagopus hosts harbouring H. microps. In addition, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening of Ischnocera lice DNA, targeting the 18S rRNA gene of the cestode, showed positive results for two different short fragments of the 18S rRNA gene of H. microps which were sequenced from lice collected on birds. Both independent lines of evidence support the hypothesis that Ischnocera lice might be suitable intermediate hosts in the life cycle of H. microps in L. lagopus.

Microcirculatory responses of sacral tissue in healthy individuals and inpatients on different pressure-redistribution mattresses.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the interaction between interface pressure, pressure-induced vasodilation, and reactive hyperaemia with different pressure-redistribution mattresses. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was performed with a convenience sample of healthy young individuals, and healthy older individuals and inpatients, at a university hospital in Sweden. Blood flow was measured at depths of 1mm, 2mm, and 10mm using laser Doppler flowmetry and photoplethysmography. The blood flow, interface pressure and skin temperature were measured in the sacral tissue before, during, and after load while lying on one standard hospital mattress and three different pressure-redistribution mattresses. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the average sacral pressure, peak sacral pressure, and local probe pressure on the three pressure-redistribution mattresses, the lowest values found were with the visco-elastic foam/air mattress (23.5 ± 2.5mmHg, 49.3 ± 11.1mmHg, 29.2 ± 14.0mmHg, respectively). Blood flow, measured as pressure-induced vasodilation, was most affected in the visco-elastic foam/air group compared to the alternating pressure mattress group at tissue depths of 2mm (39.0% and 20.0%, respectively), and 10mm (56.9 % and 35.1%, respectively). Subjects in all three groups, including healthy 18-65 year olds, were identified with no pressure-induced vasodilation or reactive hyperaemia on any mattress (n=11), which is considered a high-risk blood flow response. CONCLUSION: Interface pressure magnitudes considered not harmful during pressure-exposure on different pressure-redistribution mattresses can affect the microcirculation in different tissue structures. Despite having the lowest pressure values compared with the other mattresses, the visco-elastic foam/air mattress had the highest proportion of subjects with decreased blood flow. Healthy young individuals were identified with the high-risk blood flow response, suggesting an innate vulnerability to pressure exposure. Furthermore, the evaluation of pressure-redistribution support surfaces in terms of mean blood flow during and after tissue exposure is not feasible, but assessment of pressure-induced vasodilation and reactive hyperaemia could be a new way to assess individualised physiological measurements of mechanisms known to be related to pressure ulcer development.

Fe(III) distribution varies substantially within and between atherosclerotic plaques.

PURPOSE: Vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques are structurally weak and prone to rupture, presumably due to local oxidative stress. Redox active iron is linked to oxidative stress and the aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of Fe(III) in carotid plaques and its relation to vulnerability for rupture. METHODS: Atherosclerotic plaques from 10 patients (three asymptomatic and seven symptomatic) were investigated. Plaque vulnerability was classified using ultrasound and immunohistochemistry and correlated to Fe(III) measured by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. RESULTS: Large intra-plaque Fe(III) variations were found. Plaques from symptomatic patients had a higher Fe(III) concentration as compared with asymptomatic plaques (0.36 ± 0.21 vs. 0.06 ± 0.04 nmol Fe(III)/mg tissue, P < 0.05, in sections adjoining narrowest part of the plaques). All but one plaque from symptomatic patients showed signs of cap rupture. No plaque from asymptomatic patients showed signs of cap rupture. There was a significant increase in cap macrophages in plaques from symptomatic patients compared with asymptomatic patients (31 ± 11% vs. 2.3 ± 2.3%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Fe(III) distribution varies substantially within atherosclerotic plaques. Plaques from symptomatic patients had significantly higher concentrations of Fe(III), signs of cap rupture and increased cap macrophage activity.

Sensory-specific anomic aphasia following left occipital lesions: data from free oral descriptions of concrete word meanings.

The present study investigated hierarchical lexical semantic structure in oral descriptions of concrete word meanings produced by a subject (ZZ) diagnosed with anomic aphasia due to left occipital lesions. The focus of the analysis was production of a) nouns at different levels of semantic specificity (e.g., "robin"-"bird"-"animal") and b) words describing sensory or motor experiences (e.g., "blue," "soft," "fly"). Results show that in contrast to healthy and aphasic controls, who produced words at all levels of specificity and mainly vision-related sensory information, ZZ produced almost exclusively nouns at the most non-specific levels and words associated with sound and movement.

Anterior cingulate cortex and cognitive control: neuropsychological and electrophysiological findings in two patients with lesions to dorsomedial prefrontal cortex.

Whereas neuroimaging studies of healthy subjects have demonstrated an association between the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and cognitive control functions, including response monitoring and error detection, lesion studies are sparse and have produced mixed results. Due to largely normal behavioral test results in two patients with medial prefrontal lesions, a hypothesis has been advanced claiming that the ACC is not involved in cognitive operations. In the current study, two comparably rare patients with unilateral lesions to dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) encompassing the ACC were assessed with neuropsychological tests as well as Event-Related Potentials in two experimental paradigms known to engage prefrontal cortex (PFC). These included an auditory Novelty Oddball task and a visual Stop-signal task. Both patients performed normally on the Stroop test but showed reduced performance on tests of learning and memory. Moreover, altered attentional control was reflected in a diminished Novelty P3, whereas the posterior P3b to target stimuli was present in both patients. The error-related negativity, which has been hypothesized to be generated in the ACC, was present in both patients, but alterations of inhibitory behavior were observed. Although interpretative caution is generally called for in single case studies, and the fact that the lesions extended outside the ACC, the findings nevertheless suggest a role for MPFC in cognitive control that is not restricted to error monitoring.

Executive functions after orbital or lateral prefrontal lesions: neuropsychological profiles and self-reported executive functions in everyday living.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of chronic focal lesions to the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) or orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) on neuropsychological test performance and self-reported executive functioning in everyday living. METHODS: Fourteen adults with OFC lesions were compared to 10 patients with LPFC injuries and 21 healthy controls. Neuropsychological tests with emphasis on measures of cognitive executive function were administered along with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF-A) and a psychiatric screening instrument. RESULTS: The LPFC group differed from healthy controls on neuropsychological tests of sustained mental effort, response inhibition, working memory and mental switching, while the BRIEF-A provided more clinically important information on deficits in everyday life in the OFC group compared to the LPFC group. Correlations between neuropsychological test results and BRIEF-A were weak, while the BRIEF-A correlated strongly with emotional distress. CONCLUSIONS: It was demonstrated that LPFC damage is particularly prone to cause cognitive executive deficit, while OFC injury is more strongly associated with self-reported dysexecutive symptoms in everyday living. The study illustrates the challenge of identifying executive deficit in individual patients and the lack of strong anatomical specificity of the currently employed methods. There is a need for an integrative methodological approach where standard testing batteries are supplemented with neuropsychiatric and frontal-specific rating scales.

Investigation of boundary conditions for biomimetic HA deposition on titanium oxide surfaces.

To improve the clinical outcome of metal implants, i.e. earlier loading and reduction of the incidence of revision surgery, better bone bonding ability is wanted. One method to achieve this is to change the surface chemistry to give a surface that facilitates bone bonding in vivo, i.e. a bioactive surface. Crystalline titanium oxide has recently been proven to be bioactive in vitro and is an interesting option to the more common hydroxylapatite (HA) coatings on implants. A materials possible in vitro bioactivity is tested through soaking in simulated body fluid and studies of possible HA formation on the surface. For bioactive materials, the formed HA layer can also be used as a coating. The aim of the current paper is to investigate some boundary conditions for HA formation on crystalline titanium oxide surfaces regarding influence from coating thickness, soaking time and soaking temperature. The influence from soaking time and temperature on the HA growth were investigated on oxidised Ti samples, (24 h at 800 degrees C) resulting in a rutile surface structure. The oxidised samples were tested at three temperatures (4, 37 and 65 degrees C) and four times (1 h, 1 day, 1 week and 4 weeks). The influence from titanium coating thickness on the HA growth was investigated via depositing thin films of crystalline titanium dioxide on Ti plates using a reactive magnetron sputtering process. Four different PVD runs with coating thicknesses between 19 and 74 nm were tested. The soaking temperature had an effect on the HA formation and growth on both rutile surfaces and native oxide on Ti substrates. Higher temperatures lead to easier formation of HA. It was even possible, at 65 degrees C, to grow HA on native titanium oxide from soaking in PBS. The coating quality was better for HA formed at 65 degrees C compared to 37 degrees C. All PVD-coatings showed HA growth after 1 week in PBS at 37 degrees C, thus even very thin coatings of crystalline titanium oxide coatings are bioactive.

Low incidence of antibiotic resistance among invasive and nasopharyngeal isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from children in rural Philippines between 1994 and 2000.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of acquired antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs and blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens of 3,028 children hospitalized with signs or symptoms of pneumonia, sepsis, or meningitis in rural Philippines between 1994 and 2000. Pneumococci were identified using standard methods, serotyped, and their susceptibility to oxacillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was determined using the disk diffusion method. Penicillin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the oxacillin-resistant isolates were further tested. The clonality of the penicillin-nonsusceptible (PNSP) isolates was analyzed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Altogether 1,048 isolates were analyzed, of which 35 were invasive and 1,013 nasopharyngeal isolates. None was resistant, but 22 (2.1%) were intermediately resistant to penicillin, 4 (0.2%) were resistant to chloramphenicol, 3 (0.2%) to erythromycin, 39 (3.7%) to tetracycline, and 4 (0.2%) to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Twelve of the 22 PNSP isolates were of serotype 14 and of sequence type 63. These included the two invasive PNSP isolates. PFGE profiling further identified three separate clusters among the sequence of type 63, serotype 14 (ST63(14)) isolates. Antimicrobial resistance in both invasive and nasopharyngeal pneumococcal pediatric isolates in rural Philippines is rare. In spite of this remote setting, the PNSP isolates of the serotype 14 clusters were of ST63 type, which has been described previously on other continents.

'It is still so deep-seated, the fear': psychological stress reactions as consequences of intimate partner violence.

The negative mental health consequences of intimate partner violence have been well documented in recent years. One aim of the present study was to examine psychological distress and mental problems in assaulted women who have left their relationships. Another aim was to explore these women's sense of coherence (SOC). A combination of qualitative in-depth interviews and quantitative measurement instruments was used. Data were collected from 14 assaulted women with a mean age of 38, living in different places in Sweden. Impact of event scale-revised and symptom checklist-90-R show that the violence creates long-term psychological stress reactions and confirm previous research on the subject. Twelve of the 14 women have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The result of the interviews confirmed complex PTSD and disorders of extreme stress not otherwise specified. On the other hand we found a surprisingly high SOC level among several of the respondents, a fact which could explain why these women finally managed to leave mainly by their own efforts. We call for more both qualitative and quantitative studies on this serious public health issue.

Anti-neuronal anti-bodies in patients with early psychosis.

It may be challenging to distinguish autoimmune encephalitis associated with anti-neuronal autoantibodies from primary psychiatric disorders. Here, serum was drawn from patients with a first-episode psychosis (n=70) or a clinical high-risk for psychosis (n=6) and controls (n=34). We investigated the serum prevalence of 24 anti-neuronal autoantibodies: IgG antibodies for anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate-type glutamate receptor (anti-NMDAR), glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid alpha and beta receptors (GABA-a, GABA-b), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPA), glycine receptor (GlyR), metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 and 5 (mGluR1, mGluR5), anti-Tr/Delta/notch-like epidermal growth factor-related receptor (DNER), contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GAD65), collapsin response mediator protein 5/crossveinless-2 (CV2), aquaporin-4 (AQP4), anti-dipeptidyl-peptidase-like protein-6 (DPPX), type 1 anti-neuronal nuclear antibody (ANNA-1, Hu), Ri, Yo, IgLON5, Ma2, zinc finger protein 4 (ZIC4), Rho GTPase-activating protein 26, amphiphysin, and recoverin, as well as IgA and IgM for dopamine-2-receptor (DRD2). Anti-NMDA IgG antibodies were positive with serum titer 1:320 in one patient with a clinical high risk for psychosis. He did not receive a diagnosis of encephalitis after comprehensive neurological evaluation. All other antineuronal autoantibodies were negative and there were no additional findings with immunohistochemistry of brain issues.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a Platinum(II)-c(RGDyK) conjugate for integrin-targeted photodynamic therapy.

A cancer-targeting conjugate 4 of a cyclometalated [N,C,N-Pt(II)] complex bearing a NˆCˆN 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)-benzene with c(RGDyK) peptide as guiding molecule was designed and synthesized for real-time drug delivery monitoring in cancer cells and photodynamic therapy (PDT). This conjugate demonstrates a mild cytostatic effect to six cancer cell lines expressing integrins at different extent, while possessing promising features for PDT. Conjugate 4 demonstrated rapid cell uptake by receptor-mediated endocytosis and efficient generation of 1O2 upon irradiation. Incubation of rat bladder cancer cells AY27 with conjugate 4 (50 µΜ) prior to blue light exposure (5 min) resulted in significant reduction (50%) of cell survival compared to control cells as measured by MTT assay post 24 h after treatment.

Deletion analogues of transportan.

Several shorter analogues of the cell penetrating peptide, transportan, have been synthesized in order to define the regions of the sequence, which are responsible for the membrane translocation property of the peptide. Penetration of the peptides into Bowes melanoma cells and the influence on GTPase activity in Rin m5F cellular membranes have been tested. The experimental data on cell penetration have been compared with molecular modeling of insertion of peptides into biological membranes. Omission of six amino acids from the N-terminus did not significantly impair the cell penetration of the peptide while deletions at the C-terminus or in the middle of the transportan sequence decreased or abolished the cellular uptake. Most transportan analogues exert an inhibitory effect on GTPase activity. Molecular modeling shows that insertion of the transportan analogues into the membrane differs for different peptides. Probably the length of the peptide as well as the location of aromatic and positively charged residues have major impact on the orientation of peptides in the membranes and thereby influence the cellular penetration. In summary, we have designed and characterized several novel short transportan analogues with similar cellular translocation properties to the parent peptide, but with reduced undesired cellular activity.

Cell-penetrating peptides.

The established view in cellular biology dictates that the cellular internalization of hydrophilic macromolecules can only be achieved through the classical endocytosis pathway. However, in the past five years several peptides have been demonstrated to translocate across the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells by a seemingly energy-independent pathway. These peptides have been used successfully for the intracellular delivery of macromolecules with molecular weights several times greater than their own. Cellular delivery using these cell-penetrating peptides offers several advantages over conventional techniques because it is efficient for a range of cell types, can be applied to cells en masse and has a potential therapeutic application.

Evaluation of antidecubitus mattresses.

Pressure sores are a current problem in hospitals and care of the elderly, leading to protracted hospital stays and a high care burden. The trauma for the patients is severe, and the cost of pressure sore prevention and treatment, is considerable. Antidecubitus mattresses are used for prevention and in treatment, but they also contribute to the cost of treating pressure sores. The problem highlighted in the review is that the mattresses' effectiveness in preventing and treating pressure sores has not been sufficiently evaluated. When antidecubitus mattresses are evaluated, it is often only with regard to aspects of the interface pressure and the mattresses' ability to redistribute the pressure. The review points out the important observation that, to be able to evaluate the efficacy of the antidecubitus mattress, the mattress's effect on tissue viability needs to be studied. The parameters that ought to be considered when evaluating a support surface are: interface pressure, pressure and blood flow distribution, temperature and humidity in the skin-support surface interface. The authors propose that the effect on tissue viability of external loading can be assessed by simultaneous measurement of the interface pressure and tissue perfusion.

Memory for perceived and imagined pictures--an event-related potential study.

Event-related potentials (ERPs) and behavioural measures were used to investigate recognition memory and source-monitoring judgements about previously perceived and imagined pictures. At study, word labels of common objects were presented. Half of these were followed by a corresponding picture and the other half by an empty frame, signalling to the participants to mentally visualise an image. At test, participants in a source-monitoring task made a three-way discrimination between new words and words corresponding to previously perceived and imagined pictures. Participants in an old/new-recognition task indicated whether test words were previously presented or not. In both tasks, correctly identified old items elicited more positive-going ERPs than correctly judged new items. This widely distributed old/new effect was found to have an earlier onset and to be of a greater magnitude for imagined than for perceived items. Task (source versus item-memory) affected the old/new effects over prefrontal areas and the reaction times to remembered old items. The present findings are consistent with the view that a greater amount, or a different type, of information is necessary for accurate source-memory judgements than for correct recognition, and moreover, that different types of source-specifying information revive at different rates. In addition, the results add weight to the view that the late widespread ERP-old/new effect is sensitive to the quality or the amount of information retrieved from memory.

New limit on CPT violation

A search for antiproton decay has been made at the Fermilab Antiproton Accumulator. Limits are placed on fifteen antiproton decay modes. The results are used to place limits on the characteristic mass scale m(X) that could be associated with CPT violation accompanied by baryon number violation.

Electroencephalographic effects of intravenous nicotine--a dose-response study.

RATIONALE: It has often been demonstrated that both tobacco abstinence and nicotine have effects on the EEG power spectrum and components of the event-related potentials. In contrast, few attempts have been made to establish the dose-response relationship between nicotine and EEG parameters. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the dose-response relationship for EEG and auditory oddball P300 parameters over a wide range of intravenously infused nicotine doses. METHOD: Fourteen regular smokers who had abstained from nicotine for at least 12 h were given intravenous infusions of 0, 3.5, 7, 14 and 28 micrograms/kg nicotine over 10 min in a single-blind randomised cross-over design. Parallel recordings of spontaneous EEG, auditory P300 and heart rate, as well as venous blood sampling were made before, during and after nicotine administration. RESULTS: Linear dose-related decreases of delta and theta power were found, along with increases in alpha2 power and alpha peak frequency. Alpha1, beta and P300 parameters were unaffected. CONCLUSION: Our results are consistent with nicotine-dependent changes in EEG measures indicative of arousal.