245 research outputs found
S100B Profiles and Cognitive Function at High Altitude
No full textBjursten, Henrik, Per Ederoth, Engilbert Sigurdsson, Magnus Gottfredsson, Ingvar Syk, Orri Einarsson, and Tomas Gudbjartsson. S100B profiles and cognitive function at high altitude. High Alt. Med. Biol. 11:31-38, 2010.-Exposure to high altitude can lead to acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). In this study we investigated the effect of high altitude on neurocognitive function and S100B release. Increased S100B release has been hypothesized to signify a loss of integrity in the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Seven healthy volunteers trekked to Capanna Regina Margherita (4554 m above sea level) in the Monte Rosa massif. During ascent and descent, five test events were undertaken; participants underwent neurocognitive testing, Lake Louise scoring (LLS), and blood sampling to measure levels of S100B. The blood tests revealed that S100B levels increased 42% to 122% from baseline, and mean LLS increased from 0.57 to 2.57. A significant correlation was observed between both S100B levelsand LLS and S100B and some neurocognitive scores. The study indicates that S100B can be released by a mild hypoxia during AMS. Moreover, an observed correlation between S100B and a lower score on neurocognitive tests suggests that the pathogenetic mechanisms may be linked. The study indicates that a decline in cognitive function is associated with symptoms of AMS
S100B Profiles and Cognitive Function at High Altitude
No full textBjursten, Henrik, Per Ederoth, Engilbert Sigurdsson, Magnus Gottfredsson, Ingvar Syk, Orri Einarsson, and Tomas Gudbjartsson. S100B profiles and cognitive function at high altitude. High Alt. Med. Biol. 11:31-38, 2010.-Exposure to high altitude can lead to acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE). In this study we investigated the effect of high altitude on neurocognitive function and S100B release. Increased S100B release has been hypothesized to signify a loss of integrity in the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Seven healthy volunteers trekked to Capanna Regina Margherita (4554 m above sea level) in the Monte Rosa massif. During ascent and descent, five test events were undertaken; participants underwent neurocognitive testing, Lake Louise scoring (LLS), and blood sampling to measure levels of S100B. The blood tests revealed that S100B levels increased 42% to 122% from baseline, and mean LLS increased from 0.57 to 2.57. A significant correlation was observed between both S100B levels and LLS and S100B and some neurocognitive scores. The study indicates that S100B can be released by a mild hypoxia during AMS. Moreover, an observed correlation between S100B and a lower score on neurocognitive tests suggests that the pathogenetic mechanisms may be linked. The study indicates that a decline in cognitive function is associated with symptoms of AMS
Harald Sigurdsson and the Russo-Byzantine War of 1043
No full textThe present article analyzes Kekaumenos’ commentary on the service of Harald Sigurdsson in the Byzantine army. Special attention is given to the composition of Consilia et Narrationes and the historiographic perception of this text. It then discusses Kekaumenos’ commentary in light of Harald’s adventures in the Haralds saga Siguðarsonar and the story about the attacks of Rus’ in the Byzantine literature. The author attempts to show that Constantine IX Monomachos tried to leave the large groups of mercenaries in Constantinople. Furthermore, the emperor’s attitude to Harald and his warriors was related to the events of Russo-Byzantine war in 1043. Constantine IX Monomachos dispersed these mercenaries into the themes. John Scylitzes wrote that the emperor put a guard over them to prevent them from inciting a rebellion. These arrests could explain Harald’s mysterious detention in the reign of Constantine IX Monomachos. It is possible to conclude that Harald’s detention was caused by the Russo-Byzantine war in 1043
Developments in schizophrenia genetics: From linkage to microchips, deletions and duplications
No full textTo access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldBackground: There is strong evidence for significant contributions of genetic factors to the risk of schizophrenia. In the past 10 years, studies employing linkage and association approaches have identified multiple putative schizophrenia risk genes. For most of these, the evidence for association with schizophrenia remains weak and attempts of replication not always successful nor easy to interpret. Aim: To give an overview of new developments in genetic research of schizophrenia. Methods: The present literature on schizophrenia genetics was reviewed with special emphasis on new developments such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS), associations of copy number variations (CNVs) with schizophrenia and the role of endophenotypes in genetic research. Results: The first GWAS of schizophrenia have identified new putative candidate risk genes and opened avenues for investigating how multiple genes may act in functional biological pathways forming the genetic basis of schizophrenia and other complex diseases. There is growing evidence that rare de novo CNVs as well as some inherited CNVs contribute to the susceptibility to several neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. Schizophrenia endophenotypes, which possibly better represent biological phenomena than the complex clinical phenotype, are turning out to be helpful for investigating neurobiological pathways of putative risk genes. Conclusions: Recent studies suggest that individual common gene variants make relatively small contributions to risk of schizophrenia but some rare CNVs may be associated with much higher risk when present. Future studies employing new technologies for identifying common and rare risk markers are likely to deepen our understanding of the genetic architecture of schizophrenia
Varangians in the Orient: pilgrimage of the norwegian king Harald Sigurdsson to Jerusalem
No full textСтатья посвящена определению точной даты паломничества норвежского конунга Харальда Сигурдарсона в Иерусалим. По свидетельству скандинавских саг, паломничество имело место в то время, когда Харальд командовал варяжским наемным отрядом в Византии. В статье рассмотрены византийские военные операции 30-х гг. XI в., которые проходили с участием варяжских наемников, а также политическая ситуация на Ближнем Востоке в этот период. По мнению автора, паломничество Харальда Сигурдарсона в Святую Землю следует датировать 1037 г.The article attempts to determine the exact date of the pilgrimage of the Norwegian king Harald Sigurdsson to Jerusalem. According to the Scandinavian sagas the pilgrimage was made during his Byzantine service where he became known as the “leader over all the Varangians”. The articles gives an overview of the Byzantine military operations of the 1030-s with the participation of the Varangian mercenaries, as well as the political situation in the Middle East during that period. According to the author the Harald Sigurdsson’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land could be dated as 1037.Исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке Министерства образования и науки РФ в рамках ФЦП «Научные и научно-педагогические кадры инновационной России» на 2009–2013 гг., соглашение № 14.А18.21.0480
Vacuum-assisted closure for successful treatment of a major contaminated gunshot chest-wound: a case report
No full textTo access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldVacuum-assisted closure (VAC) is a well-established treatment for complicated wound infections and chronic wounds, including poststernotomy mediastinitis. The use of VAC in treating high-energy trauma has been more limited. We present a case where VAC was successfully used to treat a contaminated self-inflicted gunshot-wound of the chest and abdomen
Are impaired childhood motor skills a risk factor for adolescent anxiety? Results from the 1958 U.K. birth cohort and the National Child Development Study.
No full textTo access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldOBJECTIVE: Neurodevelopmental impairments have been associated with early-onset schizophrenia, early-onset bipolar disorder, and childhood-onset affective disorder. The authors investigated whether delayed childhood motor skills predicted persistent anxiety in adolescence among 6,850 subjects from a national 1958 U.K. birth cohort. METHOD: This historic cohort study used data from the National Child Development Study that was collected when its subjects were 7, 11, and 16 years old. RESULTS: Boys with poor motor skills had more than threefold the odds of maternally rated anxiety at the ages of 11 and 16, but no effect was observed for girls. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood motor impairment was strongly associated with persistent anxiety among male, but not among female, adolescents. The effect modification by sex was greater than expected, as was the effect size for boys. Both findings warrant replication and further examination
Public views on antidepressant treatment: lessons from a national survey
No full textTo access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldIn Iceland, antidepressant sales figures rose from 8 Defined Daily Doses (DDD) per 1000 subjects in 1975 to 95 DDD/1000 in 2005. The aim of the study was to examine the views of adult Icelanders on antidepressant treatment and to identify the factors most influential in shaping their views, using cross-sectional national survey of views on antidepressant treatment in a randomly drawn sample of 2000 Icelanders aged 18-80 years old. Nine in 10 responders believed that regular exercise is an efficacious treatment for depression (92.6%) but supportive interviews came second (82.3%). Seven out of 10 believed that antidepressants are efficacious and the same proportion was willing to use antidepressants as a treatment for depression. The strongest predictor of this inclination was previous use of antidepressants (odds ratio, OR=6.9, 95% CI 3.4-13.8), followed by knowing someone well who had been treated with antidepressants (OR=2.3, 95% CI 1.6 to 3.3). Eight out of every 100 responders were taking antidepressants and further 8.3% had previously been on antidepressants for at least 6 weeks. Among past users of antidepressants, 77% felt that the benefits of therapy had outweighed the disadvantages. More knowledge on antidepressants was associated (chi-squared test=9.96, df=2, P=0.007) with willingness to use them. The majority of adult Icelanders are willing to use antidepressants for depression. The factors influencing their views most strongly are subjects' own experience and the experience of close friends or relatives as users
The density, construction and drag coefficient of electrostatic volcanic ash aggregates.
No full textRecent laboratory experiments have demonstrated that electrostatic charges generated during the fragmentation of volcanic pumice cause rapid aggregation of the silicate particles produced. Here, we present measurements of the mass and component particle size distribution of individual, electrostatically bound aggregates produced during these experiments. Particles produced by fracturing pumice aggregated as they fell ∼1.5 m within an enclosed fall chamber. Aggregate mass measurements indicate aggregate densities of ∼200 kg m−3 or less. The component particle size analysis demonstrates exponential-type cumulative distributions which are dominated (on a volume basis) by particles ∼10–40 μm in diameter and contain few particles >70 μm. By representing these particles as disks of 5 μm thickness the calculated aggregate densities are in agreement with those derived from the aggregate mass measurements and indicate a relatively constant aggregate density with size (in contrast with previous results from fall velocities). Combining the density measurements with fall velocity data allows the drag coefficient of aggregates to be determined. Empirical equations developed to describe the particle size distribution within aggregates are used to derive relative aggregation coefficients for the electrostatic aggregation process. Our results can be used within numerical models of volcanic plumes in order to improve their representation of electrostatic aggregation processes
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