Using magnetic resonance imaging to measure head muscles: An innovative method to opportunistically determine muscle mass and detect sarcopenia

Background Sarcopenia is associated with multiple adverse outcomes. Traditional methods to determine low muscle mass for the diagnosis of sarcopenia are mainly based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bioelectrical impedance analysis. These tests are not always available and are rather time consuming and expensive. However, many brain and head diseases require a head MRI. In this study, we aim to provide a more accessible way to detect sarcopenia by comparing the traditional method of DXA lean mass estimation versus the tongue and masseter muscle mass assessed in a standard brain MRI. Methods The H70 study is a longitudinal study of older people living in Gothenburg, Sweden. In this cross-sectional analysis, from 1203 participants aged 70 years at baseline, we included 495 with clinical data and MRI images available. We used the appendicular lean soft tissue index (ALSTI) in DXA images as our reference measure of lean mass. Images from the masseter and tongue were analysed and segmented using 3D Slicer. For the statistical analysis, the Spearman correlation coefficient was used, and concordance was estimated with the Kappa coefficient. Results The final sample consisted of 495 participants, of which 52.3% were females. We found a significant correlation coefficient between both tongue (0.26) and masseter (0.33) with ALSTI (P < 0.001). The sarcopenia prevalence confirmed using the alternative muscle measure in MRI was calculated using the ALSTI (tongue = 2.0%, masseter = 2.2%, ALSTI = 2.4%). Concordance between sarcopenia with masseter and tongue versus sarcopenia with ALSTI as reference has a Kappa of 0.989 (P < 0.001) for masseter and a Kappa of 1 for the tongue muscle (P < 0.001). Comorbidities evaluated with the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale were significantly associated with all the muscle measurements: ALSTI (odds ratio [OR] 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–1.26, P < 0.001), masseter (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.07–1.26, P < 0.001) and tongue (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04–1.22, P = 0.002); the higher the comorbidities, the higher the probability of having abnormal muscle mass. Conclusions ALSTI was significantly correlated with tongue and masseter muscle mass. When performing the sarcopenia diagnostic algorithm, the prevalence of sarcopenia calculated with head muscles did not differ from sarcopenia calculated using DXA, and almost all participants were correctly classified using both methods.publishedVersio

"A renewed sense of purpose": mothers' and fathers' experience of having a child following a recent stillbirth.

Most research has focused on mothers' experiences of perinatal loss itself or on the subsequent pregnancy, whereas little attention has been paid to both parents' experiences of having a child following late perinatal loss and the experience of parenting this child. The current study therefore explored mothers' and fathers' experiences of becoming a parent to a child born after a recent stillbirth, covering the period of the second pregnancy and up to two years after the birth of the next baby. In depth interviews were conducted with 7 couples (14 participants). Couples were eligible if they previously had a stillbirth (after 24 weeks of gestation) and subsequently had another child (their first live baby) who was now under the age of 2 years. Couples who had more than one child after experiencing a stillbirth and those who were not fluent in English were excluded. Qualitative analysis of the interview data was conducted using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Five superordinate themes emerged from the data: Living with uncertainty; Coping with uncertainty; Relationship with the next child; The continuing grief process; Identity as a parent. Overall, fathers' experiences were similar to those of mothers', including high levels of anxiety and guilt during the subsequent pregnancy and after the child was born. Coping strategies to address these were identified. Differences between mothers and fathers regarding the grief process during the subsequent pregnancy and after their second child was born were identified. Despite difficulties with bonding during pregnancy and at the time when the baby was born, parents' perceptions of their relationship with their subsequent child were positive. Findings highlight the importance of tailoring support systems not only according to mothers' but also to fathers' needs. Parents', and particularly fathers', reported lack of opportunities for grieving as well as the high level of anxiety of both parents about their baby's wellbeing during pregnancy and after birth implies a need for structured support. Difficulties experienced in bonding with the subsequent child during pregnancy and once the child is born need to be normalised

Fine mapping of a linkage peak with integration of lipid traits identifies novel coronary artery disease genes on chromosome 5

Coronary artery disease (CAD), and one of its intermediate risk factors, dyslipidemia, possess a demonstrable genetic component, although the genetic architecture is incompletely defined. We previously reported a linkage peak on chromosome 5q31-33 for early-onset CAD where the strength of evidence for linkage was increased in families with higher mean low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). Therefore, we sought to fine-map the peak using association mapping of LDL-C as an intermediate disease-related trait to further define the etiology of this linkage peak. The study populations consisted of 1908 individuals from the CATHGEN biorepository of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization; 254 families (N = 827 individuals) from the GENECARD familial study of early-onset CAD; and 162 aorta samples harvested from deceased donors. Linkage disequilibrium-tagged SNPs were selected with an average of one SNP per 20 kb for 126.6-160.2 MB (region of highest linkage) and less dense spacing (one SNP per 50 kb) for the flanking regions (117.7-126.6 and 160.2-167.5 MB) and genotyped on all samples using a custom Illumina array. Association analysis of each SNP with LDL-C was performed using multivariable linear regression (CATHGEN) and the quantitative trait transmission disequilibrium test (QTDT; GENECARD). SNPs associated with the intermediate quantitative trait, LDL-C, were then assessed for association with CAD (i.e., a qualitative phenotype) using linkage and association in the presence of linkage (APL; GENECARD) and logistic regression (CATHGEN and aortas)

Godkänd : men inte simkunnig?

Syfte och frågeställning Syftet med uppsatsen är att ta reda på om eleverna som har ett godkänt betyg i idrott och hälsa från grundskolan kan simma när de kommer upp på gymnasiet. Frågeställningarna har varit följande: Hur många elever upplever att de kan simma? Hur många av dem kan simma? Finns det något samband mellan kön, bakgrund och etnicitet och elever som inte är simkunniga? Metod Undersökningen gjordes på 213 elever på en gymnasieskola. Elevernas betyg från grundskolan togs fram från gymnasieantagningen. Eleverna fick besvara en enkät huruvida de kunde simma eller inte. Vidare genomfördes en observation när eleverna simmade. Därefter sammanställdes, jämfördes och analyserades resultaten. Resultat Enkäten visade att 94 procent av eleverna ansåg sig vara simkunniga. Av skolans 213 elever besvarade 206 elever enkäten och 13 av dessa elever svarade att de inte kunde simma. Åtta av de icke simkunniga eleverna hade ett godkänt betyg från grundskolan. Observationerna visade att 88 procent av eleverna var simkunniga. Totalt kunde 178 elever observeras, 22 av dessa kunde inte simma. Av dessa 22 elever hade 17 ett godkänt betyg i idrott och hälsa från grundskolan. Sambandet mellan de elever som inte kunde simma var att samtliga var pojkar och att majoriteten av dessa elever inte var uppvuxna var uppvuxna och hade gått stora delar av grundskolan i något annat land. Slutsats Utifrån observationerna framkom att 17 av 22 elever hade fått ett godkänt betyg men var inte vara simkunniga. Åtta av 13 elever som angett att de inte var simkunniga i enkäten hade ett godkänt betyg. Det innebär att bedömningen av kunskapskraven ser olika ut på grundskolorna, men framför allt att lärare har satt godkända betyg trots att eleverna inte kan simma. I enkäten svarade 94 procent att de var simkunniga, vilket är liknande siffror som Skolverket presenterat i sina rapporter. Majoriteten (63 %) av de icke simkunniga var uppvuxna i ett annat land, deras bristande simkunnighet kan bero på att inga tillräckliga resurser har tillförts för att lära dem att simma.Kurs Idrott III VT 2014</p

”We cannot function alone in our own little bubble” : The collaborative work of women's shelters

Våld i nära relationer är ett vanligt förekommande problem i samhället som drabbar familjer, individer och andra närstående på ett omfattande sätt. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur kvinnojourens samverkan kring våldsutsatta kvinnor fungerar i praktiken. Sex kvalitativa intervjuer har genomförts med olika kvinnojourer runt om i Sverige och intervjuerna analyserades genom en tematisk analys. Denna studie visar att kvinnojourer upplever samverkan som komplex och att det finns stora hinder men också möjligheter som medföljer samverkan. Studien visar även att anställda och ideellt arbetande på kvinnojourer upplever både svårigheter och möjligheter men även ett stort behov av samverkan. Ytterligare visar den här studien att det behövs mer forskning kring detta område. Resultatet i studien presenteras och diskuteras utifrån samverkansteori, tidigare forskning och respondenternas svar.Intimate partner violence is a common problem in society that affects families, individuals and other relatives in a profound way. The purpose of this study is to investigate how women’s shelters collaborate collaborative work on women who are victims of violence works in practice. Six qualitative interviews were conducted with people that work in different women’s shelters in Sweden and the interviews were analyzed through a thematic analysis. This study shows that people that work in women’s shelters experience collaboration as complex and that there are major obstacles but also opportunities that come with collaboration. The study also shows that the people that work in women’s shelters perceive both difficulties and opportunities, but also a great need for collaboration. Furthermore, this study shows that more research is needed in this area. The results of the study are presented and discussed in conjunction with collaboration theory, previous research and the respondents’ answers

”We cannot function alone in our own little bubble” : The collaborative work of women's shelters

Våld i nära relationer är ett vanligt förekommande problem i samhället som drabbar familjer, individer och andra närstående på ett omfattande sätt. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur kvinnojourens samverkan kring våldsutsatta kvinnor fungerar i praktiken. Sex kvalitativa intervjuer har genomförts med olika kvinnojourer runt om i Sverige och intervjuerna analyserades genom en tematisk analys. Denna studie visar att kvinnojourer upplever samverkan som komplex och att det finns stora hinder men också möjligheter som medföljer samverkan. Studien visar även att anställda och ideellt arbetande på kvinnojourer upplever både svårigheter och möjligheter men även ett stort behov av samverkan. Ytterligare visar den här studien att det behövs mer forskning kring detta område. Resultatet i studien presenteras och diskuteras utifrån samverkansteori, tidigare forskning och respondenternas svar.Intimate partner violence is a common problem in society that affects families, individuals and other relatives in a profound way. The purpose of this study is to investigate how women’s shelters collaborate collaborative work on women who are victims of violence works in practice. Six qualitative interviews were conducted with people that work in different women’s shelters in Sweden and the interviews were analyzed through a thematic analysis. This study shows that people that work in women’s shelters experience collaboration as complex and that there are major obstacles but also opportunities that come with collaboration. The study also shows that the people that work in women’s shelters perceive both difficulties and opportunities, but also a great need for collaboration. Furthermore, this study shows that more research is needed in this area. The results of the study are presented and discussed in conjunction with collaboration theory, previous research and the respondents’ answers

Rockstjärnor har inga tuttar : En innehållsanalys om genusrepresentationen i musikmagasinet MOJO

The purpose of this study is to give an insight in how music press is presented gender wise. The focus area lies in rock music and the study is made on British music magazine MOJO in the year of 2010. The study contains quantitative analyses showing how much room men are given compared to women. The study is also supplemented with image analyses of four covers spread out over the year. The main question is formulated as in, how much room do women get in music magazine MOJO 2010 and what output does this have on rock music’s gender characteristics? The main results show, amongst other things that 79% of all the articles are written with focus on one or more male musicians. 9% were written about both men and women and 12% of the articles were written about women alone. The writers are also dominated by men and the study shows that 84% of the 510 articles were written by men. MOJO is a male-dominated magazine where men write about men, and the first sight of the magazine says the same thing. None of the twelve issues during 2010 have a female artist on the cover. They show without any exceptions the upper body of white men in their middle age. In the content analyses we have also been counting matters as how much space each article is given and in which substance the article is written about. This shows that men are more often written about with their profession as main purpose while women are written about with focus on their privacy. Men are musicians and women are women. The result also shows that articles written about men get more space when it comes to number of characters than articles written about women

Sjukgymnasters upplevelser av bemötande av patienter med invandrarbakgrund : en kvalitativ intervjustudie

Validerat; 20101217 (root