Data Quality Quantification for Time Domain IP Data Acquired along a Planned Tunnel near Oslo, Norway

Tests were done measuring resistivity and time domain induced polarisation using standard multi-core cable spreads and a special layout with separate cable spreads for transmitting current and measuring potentials. For both types of cables spreads both normal and reciprocal measurements were done in order to estimate the measurement errors. The tests were done along a planned tunnel stretch outside Olso in Norway. The electrode contact was variable with resistances in the range 0.6 - 25 kΩ. The results gave low median error levels for both types of cable spreads, but the single cable spread showed a significantly larger variation with more scatter in the IP data. Data for both types of spreads gave models that are consistent and appear to delineate the complex geology in a useful way. It is concluded that the single cable spread gives surprisingly good IP data considering the large layouts at this site, which is adequate for inversion of the integrated full decay. If on the other hand the data were to be used for spectral IP inversion of the decay curves for recovering the Cole-Cole parameters the extra effort of measuring with separated cable spreads would probably be well motivated

The relationship between weight gain during pregnancy and allopregnanolone levels : a longitudinal study

Objective: Large weight gain during pregnancy is a risk factor for complications for mother and fetus. Hunger and satiety are regulated in the hypothalamus, where the gamma-amino-butyric acid system (GABA) has an important role. Allopregnanolone, a progesterone metabolite, increases during pregnancy and is a potent GABA-A receptor modulating steroid. Allopregnanolone has been shown to induce overeating in rodents. The aim was to investigate whether there is a relationship between weight gain and allopregnanolone concentrations during pregnancy in humans. Design: A longitudinal, cohort study. Methods: Pregnant women (n = 56) were recruited in primary care in northern Sweden. Allopregnanolone concentrations in plasma were measured using radioimmunoassay and weight was measured in gestational weeks 12 and 35. Results: Weight increase correlated significantly to allopregnanolone in late pregnancy increase (r(s) = 0.320; P = 0.016), indicating a positive relationship between weight increase and allopregnanolone increase. A positive relationship was also noted between allopregnanolone in the 35th gestational week and weight increase. Women who gained = 11 kg during pregnancy showed higher allopregnanolone concentrations in week 35 and higher increase compared to women who increased < 11 kg (P = 0.006 and P = 0.009 resp.). There was no difference in weight or allopregnanolone concentrations at the onset of pregnancy. Conclusions: The results show a relationship between weight gain during pregnancy and increase in allopregnanolone concentrations

Effect of hysterectomy on pain in women with endometriosis : a population-based registry study

Objective: To assess pain symptoms before and after hysterectomy in women with endometriosis. Design: A population-based registry study. Setting: Sweden. Population: Women aged 18-45 years who underwent hysterectomy for endometriosis between 2010 and 2015. Methods: Pain symptoms before hysterectomy and 12 months after surgery were collected from the Swedish National Quality Register for Gynaecological Surgery (GynOp). Pain symptoms were also assessed by follow-up surveys after a median follow-up period of 63 months. Main outcome measures: Pelvic or lower abdominal pain after hysterectomy. Results: The study included 137 women. The proportion of women experiencing pain of any severity decreased by 28% after hysterectomy (P < 0.001). The proportion of women with severe pain symptoms decreased by 76% after hysterectomy (P < 0.001). The majority of women (84%) were satisfied with the surgical result. Presence of severe pain symptoms after the hysterectomy was associated with less satisfaction (P < 0.001). Pain symptoms after surgery, patient satisfaction and the patient's perceived improvement were not significantly different between women whose ovarian tissue was preserved and women who underwent bilateral oophorectomy. Conclusions: We observed a significant, long-lasting reduction in pain symptoms after hysterectomy among women with endometriosis. Hysterectomy, with the possibility of ovarian preservation, may be a valuable option for women with endometriosis who suffer from severe pain symptoms. Tweetable abstract: Hysterectomy is a valuable option for women with endometriosis and severe pain symptoms

Altered GABAA receptor function in women with endometriosis : a possible pain-related mechanism

Introduction: The mechanism underlying endometriosis-related pain remains poorly understood. Previous studies have indicated that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A (GABAA) receptors and GABAergic substances (eg endogenous neurosteroids) play important mechanistic roles in various pain conditions. Our primary objective was to compare GABAA receptor function between women with endometriosis and healthy controls by performing a challenge test with diazepam, a GABAA receptor agonist, using the saccadic eye velocity as the main outcome. The secondary objective was to investigate the relationship between GABAA receptor function and serum levels of allopregnanolone, an endogenous positive modulator of the GABAA receptor, in the participating women. Material and methods: 15 women with pelvic pain and laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis and 10 healthy, symptom-free, control women, aged 18–40 years, underwent the diazepam challenge test during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Basal serum allopregnanolone levels were measured prior to diazepam injection. Results: Compared with healthy controls, women with pelvic pain and confirmed endometriosis had a significantly smaller change in saccadic eye velocity after GABAA receptor stimulation with diazepam, indicating lower sensitivity to diazepam. The saccadic eye velocity response was not correlated with the serum allopregnanolone levels. Conclusions: Women with painful endometriosis show altered GABAA receptor function, depicted as a muted response to an exogenous GABAA receptor agonist